CLEAN!!!

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 11-12

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

During his years of ministrey in Assiut Egypt, my father, Roy Lake Mainse, wrote out the words of a favourite hymn that he lived by that was written by J. B. Coats. This piece of paper was kept inside the cover of his Bible. He wrote the first part as a constant reminder of the importance of God’s Word and the second part heralds the importance of truth (click on the photo to enlarge for easier reading).

Key Verse: 2 Chronicles 12:14

And he did evil, because he did not prepare his heart to seek the Lord.

There is always a cause for any effect! King Rehoboam would listen to the voice of the Lord and Judah would prosper. But when prosperity and success were granted, he would forsake God’s laws, and very shortly afterward they were in trouble again. It’s not that God moved away; it was the king and other leaders who moved away from God.

The prophet reminded Rehoboam of his sinfulness and again the king and priests humbled themselves before God. Therefore, they escaped destruction. Like Rehoboam, we will inevitably get into trouble when we fail to seek God. When we begin to do our own thing and not God’s, trouble is not far behind! Let us return daily to the Lord, so that the enemy will not prevail.

As our key verse reminds us to prepare our hearts to seek the Lord, so does this daily blog. Let’s stick together on this journey. Please be reminded that anyone can start at any time, and in two years we’ll complete the entire Bible. Amen! Amen! Amen!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord, by Your Holy Spirit, who lives in every believer in Jesus as Saviour and Lord, keep me in a daily, living relationship with You. Thank You for this fresh Bread to eat every day. In Jesus’ name I praise and worship You! Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

Besides the words written in the photo above, I also found written inside the front cover of my Dad’s old Bible these words: “Sin will keep you from this Book, and this Book will keep you from sin!” The Apostle Paul wrote about the fact that the Word cleanses us and washes us with the “Water of the Word.” Why do we need this cleansing? To produce “A glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing.” We are to be “Holy and without blemish.” The daily washing of the Word will accomplish this goal! (Ephesians 5:26-27).

I grasped the concept of this kind of constant cleansing in my late teens. It was from a sermon my Dad preached on 1 John 1:5-10.

Yours for consistency in being washed by the Word of God,

David

WISDOM

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 9-10

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

In Jerusalem, attached to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, is the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Here, an Ethiopian nun does bead work to support her church.

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

Key Verse: 2 Chronicles 9:23

And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.

The people of Ethiopia believe that their Queen, the Queen of Sheba, who visited Solomon, became pregnant as a result of a relationship between her and King Solomon. Menelik, their son, became their first great King, and the people converted to the religion of Judaism as a result. A New Testament reading for today may be the story of the Ethiopian who was the minister of finance for another “Queen of Sheba” whose name was Candace (Acts 8:26-40). The Ethiopian treasurer, who was Jewish, had made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, and on his way back home God miraculously brought the Deacon Philip to witness to him of Jesus. He was reading from the Prophet Isaiah as he travelled, probably Isaiah 53, and as Philip explained God’s plan of salvation, the official believed in Jesus and was baptized. As a result, the Church of Ethiopia was born. A majority of the Jewish people in that country became Christian. It is so to this day.

What a sad turn of events in the second chapter of today’s reading. There are some things one can only learn by living long enough. Solomon’s advisors were probably in their sixties and seventies. By ignoring their advice, King Rehoboam lost the ten northern tribes, and the Kingdom was divided. War between the north and the south was narrowly avoided. How sad! Our choices have consequences! Let us choose to pray fervently as David and Solomon did. There is no record of Rehoboam praying for wisdom, as did his father. Instead of asking God for guidance, King Rehoboam asked his boyhood friends for counsel and followed their advice. The history of Israel is proof of the consequences of poor choices.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I pray for the wisdom to listen carefully to the guidance of those who pray much and who know how to hear Your answers to their prayers for wisdom. I need You every day to provide me with an understanding of Your will in all things. In Jesus’ Name I ask for Your wisdom, Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

Someone has said that every movement for good or evil in the history of the world can be traced to the decision of one person. Rehoboam’s decision to listen to friends of his age rather than the elders of Israel resulted in the beginning of the disintegration of a great nation. The decisions of Philip and the Ethiopian treasurer resulted in good things.

When Crossroads ministry took on the challenge of helping the Ethiopian people during the famine of the 1980s, I had many experiences that impacted my life. One of these was standing on a street in Addis, the capital city, and hearing a young priest calling the people back to God. He said that the government had turned away from the God of their fathers to communism and atheism, and the famine was God’s judgment as a result. Whether this was true or not, God knows. However, I was tremendously impressed by the fearlessness of that young man. I do believe that God heard the prayers of the Ethiopian people, and a part of His provision was that the partners and viewers of 100 Huntley Street responded so very generously. Canada’s ambassador to Ethiopia at the time said in a speech to the Empire Club at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto, “100 Huntley Street and their supporters saved the lives of at least 50,000 people from death by starvation.”

Yours for seeking diligently for God’s will in our decisions,

David

Beyond the courtyard of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Jerusalem, you can see the steeple of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

One of the doorways into the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

HE IS GOOD

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 7-8

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

Light rays from the stained glass in the Church of Annunciation in Nazareth fall upon the wall where Jesus is depicted upon the Cross. Other photos of this beautiful church are at the bottom of today’s posting.

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

Key Verse: 2 Chronicles 7:3

When all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the Lord on the temple, they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped and praised the Lord, saying: “For He is good, For His mercy endures forever.”

In yesterday’s reading, Solomon repeatedly asked for forgiveness, for God’s presence to rest in the Temple, and for God’s blessing on the priests and the people. He had not asked for any supernatural manifestations. God did declare, “I have heard your prayer and I am with you!” Now God confirms His Word with signs following. Today’s reading tells us that fire and the glory of the Lord appeared. During the 40 years of the wilderness journey, God had manifested Himself to His people with fire and with the cloud of His glory, and now He shows the people that He is still with them. The people worshipped God with the familiar words, “He is good and His love endures forever.”

The fire of God was seen, and the sound of a mighty rushing wind was heard at the beginning of the building of Jesus’ Temple, the Church (Acts 2:1-4). Also, the supernatural sign of speaking in tongues was manifested. The 120 became the living Temple of God, Jesus Himself being the Chief Cornerstone (Ephesians 2:19-22).

Twenty years have passed and we find Solomon and the people content, enjoying peace and safety, and in a dangerous place spiritually. We must guard against complacency, taking the blessing of God for granted. Solomon was about to step on the slippery slope of compromise which turned his heart away from his original commitment to the purity of his relationship with God.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I thank You for the manifestations of Your presence. I pray that I will so live that You will be pleased to continue the signs and wonders which accompany Your presence. I worship You for You, Yourself, Lord Jesus, not for what You do. Your Word declares that “signs follow them that believe.” I soak in Your presence day after day. Praise You, Lord, for You are “Good.” Your “Mercy endures forever.” Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

In 1981 Crossroads Christian Communications sponsored “Salute to Canada,” 25 LIVE 90-minute telecasts from 25 cities over a period of 31 days. I have many memories of praying with the leaders of cities, of provinces, and of the country. One farmer was so enthusiastic that he cut the words, “Welcome Salute to Canada” into the wheat on a hillside which we read as we approached Edmonton, Alberta. The theme Bible verse for “Salute” is in today’s reading…2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people who are called by My Name will humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” I believe that God is in the process of doing just that some 36 years later, as I do my part and as others join in with the call of God to be “humble” and to repent of “wicked ways.”

Yours for God to “Hear from Heaven…forgive…and heal,”

David

P.S. Below is a photo from “Salute to Canada” (click on it to enlarge)…

On Parliament Hill in Ottawa.

Another view inside the Church of Annunciation in Nazareth.

Outside view of the Church of Annunciation.

ARISE

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 6

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

This is the High Priest at the life-sized replica of The Tabernacle of Moses that was on display at the Crossroads Centre in Burlington, Ontario, during the summer of 2012. In Solomon’s Temple, the altar was of larger dimensions (2 Chronicles 4:1) and was made wholly of brass, covering a structure of stone or earth. Because this altar was larger than the one used in the wilderness Tabernacle, it had a ramp leading up to it. A ramp was used because the use of steps to approach the altar was forbidden by the Torah: “Do not climb up to My altar with steps, so that your nakedness not be revealed on it” (Exodus 20:26).

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

Key Verse: 2 Chronicles 6:10

So the Lord has fulfilled His word which He spoke, and I have filled the position of my father David, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised; and I have built the temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel.

“The Lord has fulfilled His Word!” God keeps His Promises! When He charges one or more of His people with a task, He provides the wisdom, the strength, and the means to proceed with the job right through to completion. We still have an unfinished task. Jesus said to His followers, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). For another version of Jesus’ commission to us read Matthew 28:16-20. Let’s keep at it every day. Soon the job will be complete. Imagine the celebration we’ll have at Christ’s return when the last living stone is placed in the building of His Church.

In today’s reading there is a warning of the dire consequences of sin against God. As a young man, Daniel experienced being taken captive to a faraway land. But while there, he prayed three times a day for God to restore Israel. Read again 2 Chronicles 6:36-42 to discover what may have been the content of Daniel’s prayer, and then check the book of Daniel 6:10-18. As we proceed, we’ll find that God answered the prayers of Solomon, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, and many others for restoration. We can count on God! In the last book of the Old Testament, God says, “For I am the Lord, I do not change” (Malachi 3:6).

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Dear Lord Jesus, grant me the grace I need to be an industrious and faithful worker in doing my part in the building of Your great Temple, Your Church, glorious and triumphant. Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I read each morning from one of the later translations of the Bible from the Hebrew and Greek languages known as “The New King James Version.” As this translation was being completed, I would often have the scholars charged with the translation work as my guests on the 100 Huntley Street TV program to explain certain passages and why they were translating a particular portion as they did, making changes from the 19th century translation on which I was raised. There have been new translations roughly every 100-150 years since the original King James authorized version was completed in 1611, and the 20th century brought us many more English language versions. A spoken language is constantly changing the meanings of words, hence the need for new translations from the original languages which are no longer spoken…Biblical Hebrew, Biblical Greek, and the first complete Bible translation language, Latin. The New King James Version was done by scholars from various denominations looking over each other’s shoulders to make sure there was no particular denominational bias coming through. I’m confident that this translation is true to the original, divinely inspired Word of God.

Yours for consistently reading and meditating on the Scriptures, and then applying the Word to our lives,

David

THE GLORY OF THE LORD

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 3-5

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

A beautiful mosaic in Jerusalem inside the Church of Saint Peter in Gallicantu. This church was built over Caiaphas’ house where Jesus was put in a dungeon for the night after His arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. The translation of the words on the left is, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church.” John Paul II, in his visit to Quebec City, referred to this Bible verse in this way, “Pierre est un petit pierre, mais Jesus est le grand Pierre” (Peter is a little stone, but Jesus is the great Rock).

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

Key Verse: 2 Chronicles 5:14

…the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.

There is no doubt that the blessing of the Lord was on the project of building the Temple. The glory of His presence was so intense that the priests could not stand up in their places. The authorized King James translation of 1 Chronicles 5:13-14 says, “The house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God.” The inference is that the priests could not proceed to their assigned places of service in the liturgy of worship. God, Himself, showed up and took charge. We may ask ourselves the question, “What would happen in our churches if this same manifestation of God’s presence occurred?”

We can expect God to demonstrate His approval upon those things we’ve been called by Him to do. The heart of the promises of God, and the history of their fulfillment in the Church that Jesus said He would build, is that signs and wonders happened regularly. In the French language on the mosaic pictured above, Jesus is saying, “I will build My Church.” When we are His hands and feet, His body functioning as He intends, we will experience, “the glory of the Lord.” Let us take time right now to extend our hands to Heaven and worship. Let us gather in our churches at every opportunity for corporate worship.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Dear Lord God, in the next chapter (chapter six), eight times Solomon asks You to “hear from Heaven.” I am totally confident that You hear me now as I pray for Your Presence to be over me, under me, and around me. As King David wrote, “In Your Presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Amen!!! (Psalm 16:11…Click here for all eleven verses of King David’s hymn of worship).

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I’m overwhelmed by God’s Presence just now. My language is not capable of expressing my heart to God. At the beginning of the Church, God gave His 120 people, who had waited in His presence in an upper room for 10 days, a mighty manifestation of His Presence. There was the sound of a strong wind. Tongues of fire appeared upon their heads. They began to speak to God and of God in languages they had never learned. They spilled down onto the streets of Jerusalem with such enthusiasm that Peter had to explain that they were not actually drunk. As a result of all this and Peter’s message in the known language, some 3,000 people that day came to believe in Jesus and were baptized (Acts 2:40-41).

In my blog two days ago, I shared with readers the story of the new Archbishop of Canterbury. The newspaper article connected him to Holy Trinity Brompton church in London (click here for a repeat of that article). It was at that church that, as I leaned against an ancient pillar so that I would not fall backwards, I experienced the glory of the Lord in a more powerful way than ever in my life. I simply could not stand, and in fact fell on my face and was unable to move for some time. I describe this in more detail in my latest book, This Far By faith, pages 33 and 34.

Yours to believe with you for God to manifest His glory to us and through us!!!

David

Reverend Rick Hiebert portrayed the High Priest during the summer of 2012 at the Crossroads Centre in Burlington, Ontario, at the life-sized replica of The Tabernacle of Moses.

PRAY AND BE BLESSED

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 1-2

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

The Western Wall or “Wailing Wall” is located in the Old City of Jerusalem at the foot of the western side of the Temple Mount. A fence separates the areas where the men pray (the larger space on the left) from where the women pray (on the right).

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

Key Verse: 2 Chronicles 1:10

Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?

Putting God first, the people second, and himself last was an excellent beginning for young King Solomon. God responded to Solomon’s prayer and gave him such wisdom and favour that Israel rose to even greater prominence and prosperity than ever before. Trade, imports and exports flourished with surrounding nations. When Solomon was blessed by God, so were all the people of Israel, and so were millions of others.

By this time the tent Tabernacle of Moses was at least 500 years old. Building the Temple to permanently house the Ark of the Covenant was essential. The wealth of Israel enabled them to build such impressive structures that people, such as the Queen of Sheba, came to marvel at the wonder of it all.

Had this initial recognition of Solomon’s need for divine guidance continued, the future would have been very different for Solomon’s descendants. But forsaking spiritual purity for business expediency led to spiritual poverty; compromise with the evil practices of surrounding nations eventually led to national disintegration.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, there’s a very serious lesson here for me to learn. Please grant me not only wisdom, I pray, but also a consistency of purpose to be spiritually pure, to live a life of holiness, every day, in every way. I ask these mercies in the Name of the One who always did that, Jesus, Himself. Amen!!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

Notice the papers in the cracks in the picture below. This act of placing prayer requests in the Wall does not necessarily make prayers more effective, but, like fasting, it underlines the fervency with which we desire God’s will in our individual lives and in the lives of those for whom we pray. I encourage written prayers. The act focuses our attention. I’ve often written my most urgent prayer request, put it on the wall where I pray and also place the request in the centre drawer of my work desk where I cannot miss praying about it several times a day. Often, if the request is not too personal, I’ll drop it in the offering receptacle at church along with my tithe and offering envelope. In addition to expressing the need in writing, I also write a statement of my confidence in God’s promise of His provision.

Yours because I believe, like Solomon, that there is a personal God who hears and answers prayer,

David

Young Jewish boys praying at The Western Wall or “Wailing Wall.” Notice the papers in the wall in front of the first three boys. Men and boys must all wear a little hat called a kippah when praying at the Wall.

OFFERING WILLINGLY

Today’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 29

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

The Dome of the Rock is a shrine located on the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem. The structure has been refurbished many times since its initial completion in 691 AD. Many believe the Temple of the Jewish people will be rebuilt just to the left of the gold and blue structure, directly inside the Eastern Gate.

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

Key Verses: 1 Chronicles 29:9, 14

Then the people rejoiced, for they had offered willingly, because with a loyal heart they had offered willingly to the Lord; and King David also rejoiced greatly… But who am I, and who are my people, That we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, And of Your own we have given You.

“Offered willingly” is repeated three times in our key verses, plus twice more in this chapter. There is a message here for us to do the same in our support of God’s work. The focus of this book shifts here to God Himself. Twenty times God is addressed directly. We are treated to a foretaste of the Psalms of King David. Let us worship with David by reading out loud, if possible, verses 10 to 15 (click here). We exalt You Lord! Blessed be Your Holy Name forever!

Tomorrow, God willing, we start reading the second book of Chronicles. Thirty-six chapters later we will move back into the New Testament book of Philippians, known as the “Epistle of Joy.” Then we move back again to the book of Ezra. Ezra is believed to have compiled the books of First and Second Chronicles. He was God’s man to build a new Temple. The Temple of David and Solomon was destroyed by the Babylonian conqueror, Nebuchadnezzar. If we take a look ahead to Ezra, we will see a similarity in style of writing, and in Ezra 6:11-28, we can learn more about the author of Chronicles who was a priest and a scribe. God is never without someone who is faithful in His service.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I pray that I will “offer willingly” my life, my service, my resources, and my all! As David prayed, “All things come from You, and of Your own we have given You.” I am Yours Lord! You have given me a free will, and I willingly present myself to You for Your purposes. The Lord Jesus did this and I follow Him. In His name I pray, Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I want to invite every blog partner to read the story of the present Archbishop of Canterbury. Along with Queen Elizabeth, he leads the Church of England. It was at Holy Trinity Brompton Church in London that I had my most powerful encounter with the Holy Spirit. The current Archbishop was a member there when he entered the priesthood. Cannon Andrew White, who is quoted in the article, has been a guest on the 100 Huntley Street telecast several times. God always has someone for His purposes (click here for the story of Justin Welby, the first Archbishop of Canterbury to have Jewish roots).

Yours for “offering willingly” our lives in service to God,

David

P.S. My son Ron posted a video on Facebook that his wife Ann recorded from our family’s Father’s Day celebration [2017]. I took the time to share some thoughts with my precious children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren…as well as sing a duet with Norma-Jean. You can watch it by clicking HERE (a Facebook account may be required to view it).

LOYAL HEARTS AND WILLING MINDS

Today’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 28

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

Zedekiah’s Cave, an extension of Solomon’s Quarries, is a 5-acre underground meleke limestone quarry that runs the length of five city blocks under the Old City of Jerusalem. It was carved over a period of several thousand years and is a remnant of the largest quarry in Jerusalem. Here is the path that leads down into the depths of the quarry.

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

Key Verse: 1 Chronicles 28:20

And David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God — my God — will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord…”

Young Solomon must have been overwhelmed by the challenge facing him. God had called him to follow his father as king. His first task was to oversee the building of the Temple in Jerusalem on Mt. Moriah. But, along with the calling, God gave Solomon instructions and a promise.

First, Solomon was to know the God of his father and to “serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind” (28:9).

Second, Solomon was encouraged to “Be strong and of good courage and do it” (28:20a).

Third, his father assured him that God would be with him and that God would not leave him or forsake him (28:20b).

When God calls us to do His work we must do it without fear, knowing that He will accomplish His purpose through us.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I need Your provision in order to accomplish Your purpose. Here I am, Lord, at Your service. Please grant me a loyal heart and a willing mind. With heart and mind focused on doing Your will, I know I will succeed. In the Name of Jesus, the One who did Your will 100% of the time, I pray, Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

When I saw the number “100” on the front of the building on Huntley Street in downtown Toronto, I knew, without a doubt, that God wanted Crossroads to renovate and occupy that building. Recently I walked down that street and marvelled at God’s provision back in 1977. The building where the 100 Huntley Street telecast originated is gone now and the head office of the cable TV and telecommunications giant, Rogers Communications, is there. Our lease on the building at 100 Huntley Street ended and, like Solomon might have been with the Temple, I was almost overwhelmed at the building challenge that faced us. I marvel at God’s call and His provisions! In the Spring of ’92, we dedicated to God the new 143,000 square foot building known as the “Crossroads Centre” in Burlington, Ontario. God has done amazing things through the faithful support of His loyal people, our partners in ministry.

Yours because of God’s gift of loyal hearts and willing minds,

David

Another view inside Zedekiah’s Cave/Solomon’s Quarries.

You can see the walls of Jerusalem above the bedrock of the Quarry. Here is one of the entrances to Zedekiah’s cave. Just to the south is the area where the Temple was built, and to the north on the other side of the quarry is the rock wall considered by many as the Place of the Skull. This is Mt. Moriah where Abraham was about to offer Isaac as a sacrifice when God said that He would provide the sacrifice. Jesus, the Son of God, was that Sacrifice offered on this mountain (Genesis 22:1-18).

STARS IN THE SKY

Today’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 27

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

Capturing a golden moment over the beautiful Old City of Jerusalem.

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

Key Verse: 1 Chronicles 27:23

But David did not take the number of those twenty years old and under, because the Lord had said He would multiply Israel like the stars of the heavens.

Abraham, known as the father of faith, was given the promise from God at least three different times that his children would be like the “stars of the heavens.” With the continued listing of names in today’s reading, we may want to read Genesis 22:1-17. God promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Israel) to multiply their people, and King David believed God’s promise. A thousand years later, the writer to the Hebrews picks up the story and reaffirms the fact of God’s promise (Hebrews 11:8-19). God’s promise has come true and is continuing to be fulfilled. The people of God are uncountable. All of us who are believers in the God of Abraham, and in the One who said, “Before Abraham was, I AM,” are in the heavenly census (read John 8:56-59). We too, along with David, are part of that number, “like the stars of the heavens.”

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I thank You that by faith I am numbered in Your census, which shows Your children are more in number than the stars of the heavens. I pray that I will be a help in Your work of adding even more people to that number. I’m reminded, Lord, that Your prophet Daniel wrote, “Those who turn many to righteousness [shall shine] like the stars forever and ever.” Grant me the gift of faithfulness in prayer, in witness, and in supporting those who are also winning precious souls to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I have a vivid imagination. I can imagine the scene in Heaven when I first confessed Jesus as my personal Saviour and Lord. Jesus said, “Therefore, whoever confesses Me before men, him will I also confess before My Father who is in Heaven” (Matthew 10:32). So here’s the scene. It’s a Monday in the locker room at high school. The past Friday evening in the Glebe Collegiate auditorium, I had gone forward to receive Jesus as Saviour and Lord, and now I was determined to tell my fellow basketball players about it. I said something like this,”I have an announcement! You’ll see a different Mainse from now on. I have given my life to Jesus.” There was silence, some teasing, and then life went on. However, things happened in Heaven. I believe Jesus kept His Word and said something like this: “Father, David Charles Mainse has just confessed Me in front of his high school teammates.” According to Scripture, there was rejoicing in Heaven. Then I can imagine one of the angels, who was listening to Jesus, writing my name down in the Lamb’s Book of Life. I was counted in God’s census. Okay, it may not have been exactly like that. I’ll find out some day. I do believe that I’m in that number…a greater number than the stars of the heavens!

Yours for increasing daily the number of the children of Abraham,

David

MAKING MELODY

Today’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 25-26

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

This is the site of the Qumran Caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. You can see Cave Number 4 in the middle where the first scrolls were found.

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

Key Verse: 1 Chronicles 25:2

Of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asharelah; the sons of Asaph were under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied according to the order of the king.

Asaph, along with David and others, wrote Psalms (click here for Psalm 50). Giving thanks and worshipping the Lord was a very important element of the services in the Temple. The Psalms were the content of their hymn book. We may be sure that if they had modern technology, the words of Asaph would have often been projected on a screen so that the congregation could sing along. The words and music of the hymns and Gospel songs have endured as instruments of worship sung directly to God (e.g. How Great Thou Art). They are a form of prophecy born in the inspiration of the Spirit of God. The Apostle Paul, who would have regularly participated in the music of the Jerusalem Temple, wrote these words: “…speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19). Some translations start this verse with the words, “Encourage one another.” Verse 21 goes on to describe the content of the singing: “Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I pray today the words written by Fanny Crosby and then put to music for congregational singing…“Thou, my everlasting portion! More than friend or life to me, all along my pilgrim journey, Saviour, let me walk with Thee. Close to Thee, close to Thee, close to Thee, close to Thee, all along my pilgrim journey, Saviour, let me walk with Thee.” I pray this in Jesus’ Name! Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS

While writing this blog, I’ve found myself breaking out singing the hymn, How Great Thou Art! Also, I have just sung the song of personal experience, Amazing Grace. This weekend I’ll be singing the world’s most popular song, “Happy Birthday”, to one of our great-grandchildren.  I’m so happy that my great-grandchildren are learning the Scriptures by singing them. We regularly sing God Rocks songs, which consist of Bible verses. Dozens of Scriptures have been put to music by the God Rocks composer, Bruce Stacey. When I need a lift for my heart, my attitude, and my spirit, I’ve proven that “singing and making melody” is a sure remedy. Here is a link to a video of one of the God Rocks Scripture songs.

Yours for “singing and making melody,”

David