THE WORKS OF GOD
Suggested Reading: John 9
(click scripture link to read online)
The southern tip of the Dead Sea in the Jordan Valley with the Mountains of Moab in the distance.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where Reynold took the photo, click HERE.
Key Verse: John 9:3
Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him…”
It is so typical of human nature that Jesus’ disciples wanted to lay blame on someone for the blindness of this man. A particular kind of venereal disease can cause blindness in a new born. So often we see scandal when we should be seeing an opportunity to help. We fall into gossip instead of falling on our knees in prayer. For Jesus, this was an opportunity to bring glory to His Father. The Judge of all the earth did not judge. He who knows all things rejected speaking of the past sins of this man or his parents. Jesus did a creative miracle! The Pharisees are often seen as the bad guys, but here the followers of Jesus were acting like their opponents, abandoning compassion for criticism.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Dear Lord Jesus, I pray that You’ll grant me grace always to see human need with compassion and prayer. Help me to think, “What would Jesus do?” and act accordingly. Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
My mother died when I was 12 years old. My most vivid memory of her was not of her making dinner, but was of seeing her on her knees in prayer. After her death, my Dad was silent as we drove down Bank street in Ottawa, and finally he said, “I can never remember hearing your mother say anything bad about anyone.” This reinforced my positive memories of her. I do know that she visited the most needy families in the little village where we lived at the time. I marveled at the glowing eulogies given her. I didn’t think it was exceptional. I thought all mothers were like that. I know now that this is not the case. I also know that Jesus changed my heart to make me more like Him, and yes, more like Mother, Hazel Pritchard Mainse. Norma-Jean’s mother was killed by a drunk driver in a car accident when Norma-Jean was just 17. All reports are that Lillian Davies Rutledge was a woman of God. Neither Norma-Jean nor I have met our mothers-in-law. Just yesterday, as I meditated, I thought that no doubt they’ve met in Heaven. What a wonderful truth it is that I’ll see them both someday soon.
Yours for ministering to the needs of others,
David
Jesus came that all might have sight. If we could only remember to bring our afflictions and despairs to Him every day; Jesus promises to be with us, to heal us and to make all things new.
Thank you David. “See them soon..” Not too soon I hope! We need you to stick around at least long enough to finish this 100 words journey! You are Canada’s “Billy Graham” – a preacher without spot or wrinkle in over 50 years of public ministry. I am very proud of you and your work.
I agree with you, Linda–David Mainse is Canada’s Billy Graham!
AMEN to Linda’s words…they have long been my thoughts exactly when I see, hear or think of David. What HUGE shoes you will leave to fill. 🙂
I thank you as well David, and hope and pray your health brings you through to the completion of your blog, and years to follow. You have opened my eyes to scripture, so I can see more than I have before. As I live out my life, I also pray that I may minister effectively, and without judgement, to the needs of others.
My prayer is the same as yours also to ask myself what would Jesus do in every
situation I am in. Thank you as well for for doing this blog .
God Bless you and your family
Lianne Hogg
My prayer is the same as those above….Lord knows the day and the Hour …His will be done …there is so much work still to do as we journey…and your Blog is wonderful …and the picture today ( I love it ) May the Lord give you His Strength today and in the days that follow…as you encourage us with your personal history…as you share …We get to know a little more and understand the man you have become…as you decrease and Jesus shines through….
Blessings on your day…..Blessed be the Name of the Lord…All Glory belongs to Him……
Before I was born again, and began to learn through the Free Methodist Church, I held an incorrect assumption of that scripture verse, in particular. I saw it through completely different eyes. I am so thankful the Lord has begun to open them, over the past seven years, and that He continues to work through and change me.
Thank you, David, for reaffirming this with your message, today. As always, your guidance and encouragement are divinely inspiring. Your dedication to serving our Lord is amazing as you deal with cancer. It is God’s will when you reunite with your loved ones in heaven. When Jesus greets you, “Well done, faithful servant, well done!” –what an indescribable moment that will be!!!
Criticism so easily besets us as human being. Just think of Miriam and Aaron in Numbers 12. But is is not Gods way, and Jesus lived a life full of compassion, and He is so willing to come along side of us and help us on the journey to “become more like Him”. All praise be to Him!
Greetings in His name to all of you.
Dear Mr. Mainse,
My thoughts are in concert with my fellow bloggers.
Your 100 words brought tears to my eyes today.
God Bless you and your lovely Family 🙂
Diane
Thankyou to you David. Thankyou to everyone here for their comments.
Thankyou to God for leading me here.
I thank God for all the blessings and growing understanding of the Word this blog has brought me and others like me. I pray for forgiveness of sins, healing of the body and a fresh start to honour God and His Son Jesus Christ the way they should be honoured in our daily lives. This I humbly pray in Jesus Christ Name, Amen.
Dear David: All i can do in response is weep
In Christian Love
John.
Hi Again….I love coming back and reading the comments after mine…The Lord is Good all the Time,,,and Our Time is in His Hands..It is so wonderful to know this and to Trust Him…brings Joy, and Hope to my spirit through the trials…and keeps my focus on Him as i learn and grow in the Word… the cancer word is very small compared to CHRIST …. who heald us in Jesus Name when our eyes were opened…to see Him ….now ….and later at the end of this season here…. we remember …His words…Out of Body…Present with Him…wow ….what a day for sure….so exciting…when we ( Believe ) Just need to be ( Ready ) Blessings…
Joyful in Hope
Patient in Trials
Faithful in Prayer
soon and very soon we will see him…… maybe today in the Air ……
My heart is so warmed each day as we share Davids’ blog with
one another…gaining in understanding and being made like Him, by Him!
God Bless all!
Dear David,
It has been so encouraging to read your daily blog. Such wonderful insights.To-morrow I am leaving for Israel with my granddaughter Ashleigh with Pastor John Tweedie as our leader. I know it will be a wonderful experience to walk where Jesus walked and have the Bible become alive.
This trip will last for 11 days, so I will not be able to follow your blog for these days,but will continue when I return.
In the meantime I wish you God’s richest blessings. Please pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Ann De Vries.
For some of you in the east, your day is over; not quite yet in BC. A quick question for Ann deVries; do you have a little extra room in your suitcase? ( just kidding ) Mr. Mainse; I also lost a parent at age 12, my dad. I was 19 when my mother died ( she took her own life at age 60 ) my mother was very depressed and was seeing an Old Doctor who happened to be a pill pusher. At the end, I believe she regretted her actions but, it was too late. Our God is a merciful God. I believe my mother loved The Lord. I obviously do not have the same kinds of memories of my parents as you do of yours, David SR. ( I hope you don’t mind as we have 2 David’s with us. ) I respect your view of life after death but, my view is that all who have died sleep in the dust of the earth until the return of Christ and, all who are in Christ will be resurrected first and all who are still alive will be caught up with them and meet The Lord in the air and, forever be with The Lord. I know little Colton Burpo wouldn’t agree but, that’s how I interpret Scripture. I, like Diane McCooeye, like to come back later to see who commented after me so, please be gentle, people! A good night to all and to all a good night!