Wednesday, October 11, 2017

YOU AND I

Today’s Reading: Psalm 77

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

 

Caesarea Maritima is a national park on the Israeli coastline, near the modern city of Caesarea. The ancient Caesarea Maritima city and harbor was built by Herod the Great about 25-13 BC. The city was populated through the late Roman and Byzantine eras. A good place to start meditating on God’s work, as our key verse suggests, is by observing nature. This sea scape proclaims the greatness of our Creator God!

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

Key Verse: Psalms 77:12-13

I will also meditate on all Your work, and talk of Your deeds. Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary; Who is so great as our God?

 

Dr. John Hull, the former global CEO for Crossroads, earned his doctorate from one of the most highly respected theological colleges in the world, Gordon Conwell Seminary of South Hamilton, Massachusetts. John shares his insights with us on Psalm 77 here on today’s blog…

God is not embarrassed by the transparency of our prayers. In Psalm 77, the writer is transparent and authentic in his desperate need for God — and in his own inability to live godly apart from holy God. The writer’s humanity asks the same kind of questions we often ask: Will the Lord accept me or reject me? Will I ever expect His favor again when things seem so hard? Is He withholding His compassion because He’s angry at me? Amazing isn’t it? The transparent thoughts of ancient and modern man seem to have little variance.The Psalmist presses on though, beyond the questions, the doubts and the insecurities, toward peace and victory! His process? He doesn’t focus on life’s challenges nor upon his own fallen state. Instead, he finds peace and comfort by focusing on the very character of God. He recharges his spirit by focusing on God as holy, powerful, and purposeful. The take-away of Psalm 77 is when one is overwhelmed by life and/or fear, focus on the perfection of God, the wisdom of God and the inability of God to ever do wrong. It’s within the character of God that we find peace within the character of our lives. – John

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord, I thank You for the privilege of praying daily with all who share prayer needs in response to this blog. I ask for blessings and “Yes” or “No” or “Wait” answers to prayer for each person. In Jesus’ Name I come before Your throne of mercy. Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I want to make an observation about yesterday’s reading. In Psalm 76 Asaph focuses on God and repeats the word “You” (God) several times. Then Asaph switches to the word, “I,” and repeats it a dozen times in the first 12 verses of Psalm 77. No wonder he is discouraged! He is focusing on himself. But he finally gets it right! Our key verse is the turning point. Eleven times in the last 10 verses of Asaph’s hymn he focuses back on God with the words “You” or “Your.” No wonder he is optimistic about life once again!

Yours with thankfulness, meditating on God, and joining our prayers together,

David

25 thoughts on “Wednesday, October 11, 2017

  1. The oceans are amazing. The forests are especially beautiful right now. The squirrels are very busy getting ready for the blankets of snow that will eventually come (Alberta already has snow). Nature surely does show God’s handiwork! Thank You, Lord.

  2. Yes, Doreen, I read that some call Canada the second prettiest country in the world; the first they say is Scotland. I am humbled again that Pastor David prayed for our needs when he was so ill himself. Yes, the psalmist said that our help comes from the Lord so we call on Him. Amen? Blessings Mainse family and fellow bloggers!

  3. Ger,I have thought many times over the past many months of our departed shepard,David,wondering just how ill he was and being so humbled by his concern for everyone else.Below is a link to a Charles Stanley video called ‘Focus On God…’
    The leaves here were held back from turning by the warm weather from all the hurricanes then suddenly they seemed to change in just a few days to catch up.What a beautiful fall we are having.Enjoy it.I always praise God for the beauty around me as I drive to wherever.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LloFz5fl0Wg

  4. Prayer for Norma-Jean & Family, “May the God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our affliction” … comfort you today.. 2 Cor. 1:3

  5. Praying for the wild fires raging in California. Those who have lost loved one, property and business there. We truly need the intervention of God in the midst of all the conflicts, chaos and natural disasters in our world today. God is speaking.

    “At Thy feet I bow adoring, bending lower and lower still,
    Giving up my all to follow, just to to my Master’s will.
    Giving up my all to follow…. just …. to do…my Master’s will.”

  6. I fell a couple of times in a seizure Thanksgiving evening Philips Life line called
    and EMS came . I did not have to go the hospital, and do need my glasses fixed.
    Please pray for me I thank God for all the people who did help me, and still do.
    For along while I could not find a c.d I had,and just found it recently called “Healing
    Atmosphere”. I put it on last night,and it helped me get to sleep. I am also thankful
    that on my computer I can zoom in, and out to make words larger in a week or so
    hopefully my glasses will be fixed.
    Thanks blogger for all your prayers
    Lianne Hogg

    • Oh Lord God, we pray to You, our Heavenly Father, our Saviour Jesus Christ, and to the sanctity of the Holy Spirit, for our dear sister-in-Christ, Lianne. Protect her with Your mighty wings and keep her safe. Cover her with Your precious blood that she may find strength and comfort in You. And all the saints prayed, amen, amen, and amen.

    • Lianne we praise and thank God that you got help immediately!
      TY for posting your blog! YOU WILL BE AMAZED HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU HAVE HELPED BY BEING HONEST ABOUT YOUR HEALTH SITUATION!
      We pray dear Heavenly Father that You Lord will be with Lianne in every way, in Your Word You tell us that You will not forsake us nor leave us! THANK YOU LORD. AMEN

  7. How I have missed the blog; limited internet access at present. Today’s Psalm and photo are so inspiring. Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen. You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron. Amen! Blessings fellow saints in the Lord.
    This song is for you, Lianne!

    Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
    2 Cor 3:17 NIV

    Revelation Song
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-zk-E55dRk

  8. our medical system is broken! HOWEVER each person can make the right decisions about their health!
    LAY OFF THE SUGAR!
    STOP THE SMOKES; THE DRUGS;THE BOOZE!
    GET EXERCISING!
    PEOPLE HAVE TO LEARN ABOUT DISCIPLINE!

    CHILDREN WATCH WHAT THE ADULTS DO! LORD HELP THE FAMILIES, BRING ABOUT A DESIRE TO WORSHIP YOU, IN ALL AREAS,

    LORD GOD ENTER THE HEARTS OF ALL PEOPLE AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS IN REGARDS TO THEIR HEALTH, THEIR WEALTH, THEIR PROSPERITY; THEIR CHOICE OF WANTING TO GO TO HEAVEN OR NOT!

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