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Day 364 of My Second Bible Study Journey - 20 December reflections

Day 362, 28 December 2022



1)



2) Our Daily Bread for 30 December 2022



Entitled "Grace Amid the Chaos"




Psalm 107:23-32



23 Some went down to the sea in ships,

to do business in the vast waters;

24 they saw the works of the Lord

and His wonders in the deep water.

25 For He commands and raises the stormy wind,

which lifts up the sea waves.

26 The sailors went up to the sky, they came down to the depths;

their strength melted because of the great danger.

27 They reeled to and fro and staggered like drunken men,

and were completely confused.

28 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,

and He saved them out of their distress.

29 He made the storm calm, and the sea waves were still.

30 They were glad because the waters were quiet,

so He brought them to their desired harbour.

31 Let them praise the Lord for His goodness

and for His wonderful works to the people!

32 Let them exalt Him in the congregation of the people,

and praise him in the assembly of the elders.



[23] They that go down to the sea in ships, That do business in great waters;

[24] These see the works of the LORD, And his wonders in the deep.

[25] For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind,

Which lifteth up the waves thereof.

[26] They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths:

Their soul is melted because of trouble.

[27] They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man,

And are at their wits' end.

[28] Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble,

And he bringeth them out of their distresses.

[29] He maketh the storm a calm,

So that the waves thereof are still.

[30] Then are they glad because they be quiet;

So he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

[31] Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness,

And for his wonderful works to the children of men!

[32] Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people,

And praise him in the assembly of the elders.



I was drifting off into an impromptu nap when it hit me. From the basement, my

son ripped a chord on his electric guitar. The walls reverberated. No peace.

No quiet. No nap. Moments later, competing music greeted my ears: my daughter

playing "Amazing Grace" on the piano.



Normally, I love my son's guitar playing. But in that moment, it jarred and

unsettled me. Just as quickly, the familiar notes of John Newton’s hymn

reminded me that grace thrives amid the chaos. No matter how loud, unwanted,

or disorienting the storms of life might be, God's notes of grace ring clear

and true, reminding us of His watchful care over us.



We see that reality in Scripture. In Psalm 107:23-32, sailors struggle

mightily against a maelstrom that could easily devour them. "In their peril,

their courage melted away" (v. 26). Still, they didn't despair but "cried out

to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out

of their distress" (v. 28). Finally, we read: "They were glad when it grew

calm, and he guided them to their desired haven" (v. 30).



In chaotic moments, whether they're life-threatening or merely

sleep-threatening, the barrage of noise and fear can storm our souls.

But as we trust God and pray to Him, we experience the grace of His

presence and provision-the haven of His steadfast love.



By: Adam Holz



Reflect & Pray



When have you experienced God's haven of peace in other people?

To whom might you offer similar encouragement?



Father, help me to remember to call out to You

when the waters of life are rising, and help me to offer hope to others.



For further study, read Navigating the Storms of Life.




3) From The Billy Graham Evangelical Ministry Association



Words in Season - Scripture Memory Tools



Week 3 - Saved Now and forever Day 6 - Eternal Life, Beginning now



John 10:28 - I give them eternal life. They shall never perish,

nor shall anyone snatch them from My hand.



28 and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish,

neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.



In C.S. Lewis's The Great Divorce, one of the Spirits in heaven, identifying

himself as George MacDonald, makes some startling statements on the nature of

eternal life. Depending upon the individual's choice for or against Christ,

MacDonald says, everything in life takes on the character of haven or hell.

"At the end of ALL THINGS, when the sun rises here (in heaven) and the twilight

turns to blackness down there, the Blessed will say, 'We have never lived

anywhere except in Heaven,' and the Lost, 'We were always in Hell.'

And both will speak truly" - From the Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis.

Lewis was not trying to make a theological case, but to demonstrate

a principle: eternal life begins now.

The choices that we make for or against obedience to God, the life we live,

the patterns we establish, all move us in one direction of the other.

And when we have decided to choose obedience to God (the forsakeness of sin),

when we give ourselves fully into his hands, he is able to take the worst of

circumstances and redeem them for our good, use them to mature us in his image.

Again Jesus says in John 10:28

"I give them eternal life. They shall never perish,

nor shall anyone snatch them from My hand. "

In Christ is a very secure place to be. No experience is lost, no pain is

wasted. Everything in our lives is redeemed by God for our benefit.



Application



a) How have I experienced the truth that "eternal life begins now"?



b) How can this verse help me put life in perspective during times

of stress and anxiety?



4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland



Is 48:15,17



15 I, even I, have spoken, and I have called him;

I have brought him, and his way will prosper.

17 (Ps 32:8; Isa 43:14) Thus says the Lord,

your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:

I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit,

who leads you in the way you should go.



15 I, even I, have spoken; yea, I have called him:

I have brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous.

17 Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel;

I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit,

which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.



5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:



God's Protection in Times of Trouble



Ps 91



PSALMS 91



1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress,

my God in whom I trust."

3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the hunter

and from the deadly pestilence.

4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) He shall cover you with His feathers,

and under His wings you shall find protection;

His faithfulness shall be your shield and wall.

5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,

nor of the arrow that flies by day;

6 (2Sa 17:22; Dt 3:8-9) nor of the pestilence that pursues in darkness,

nor of the destruction that strikes at noonday.

7 (Ps 88:7; Jnh 2:3) A thousand may fall at your side

and ten thousand at your right hand,

but it shall not come near you.

8 (Job 35:10; Ps 63:6) Only with your eyes shall you behold

and see the reward of the wicked.

9 (Ps 38:6; 18:2) Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge,

even the Most High, your dwelling,

10 (Ps 42:3; Joel 2:17) there shall be no evil befall you,

neither shall any plague come near your tent;

11 (Ps 42:5; 43:5) for He shall give His angels charge over you

to guard you in all your ways.

12 They shall bear you up in their hands,

lest you strike your foot against a stone.

13 You shall tread upon the lion and adder;

the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.

14 Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;

I will set him on high, because he has known My name.

15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble,

and I will deliver him and honor him.

16 With long life I will satisfy him

and show him My salvation.



Psalm 91



1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High

Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress:

My God; in him will I trust.

3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler,

And from the noisome pestilence.

4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust:

His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night;

Nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness;

Nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand;

But it shall not come nigh thee.

8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold

And see the reward of the wicked.

9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge,

Even the most High, thy habitation;

10 There shall no evil befall thee,

Neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee,

To keep thee in all thy ways.

12 They shall bear thee up in their hands,

Lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder:

The young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him:

I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him:

I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him,



Remember God's promises when You pray



The Lord's prayer



Matthew 6:9-13



9 "Therefore pray in this manner:

Our Father who is in heaven,

hallowed be Your name.

10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;

Your will be done

on earth, as it is in heaven.

11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.

12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,

as we forgive our debtors.

13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."



9 After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.



6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2023 edition?)



The Northern Territories of Canada



Yukon



Yukon Total population (2015) 36500 Muslim (est) 69



In Whitehorse the Muslim population grew from 2 families

in 2001 to more than 60 people in 2014. Originally meeting in a church,

they now meet for prayer service in a former office space.



Pray for Muslims and believers in Whitehorse to come together,

and for Muslims to find faith in Jesus Christ.



Northwest Territories (NWT)



NWT population (2015) 43600 Muslim (est) 473



The Muslim community of Yellowknife has grown from 275 to 330 un the past year.

To replace their inadequate facility, they are planning a C$2 to C$2.5 million

Islamic Centre.



Pray that the Muslims in Yellowknife and all of the NWT will awaken to

spiritual hunger and be open to saving faith in Jesus Christ.



Nunavut (NU)



NU total population (2015) 36600 Muslim (est) 86



The Islamic Centre of Iqaluit now claim about 100 Muslims and have surpassed

80 % of their funding goal to building the first mosque in this territory.

Their stated goal is "To spread the message of Islam

in the far northern reaches of Canada."



Pray that believers in Iqaluit take up Jesus' command to love and reach

their Muslim neighbours with the Gospel.



Adding further



30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020



Under the Keep Praying page



When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month

and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days

of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that

usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,

of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be

decorated and festivals will be held.

For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the

distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of

Islam.

You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",

which means Blessed Eid!"

Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you

know, and Muslims around the world:

- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions

in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about

unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such

movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three

decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim

relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.



Acts 2:12-17 : 17 12 They were all amazed and perplexed, saying to each other,

"What does this mean?"

13 (1Co 14:23) Others mocking said, "These men are full of new wine."



Peter's Speech at Pentecost



14 (Ac 1:26) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice

and said to them, "Men of Judea and all you who dwell in Jerusalem,

let this be known to you, and listen to my words.

15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose,

since it is the third hour of the day.

16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

17 (Isa 44:3; Ac 10:45) 'In the last days it shall be,' says God,

'that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;

your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

your young men shall see visions,

and your old men shall dream dreams.'



- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective

discipleship movements among Muslim people.



- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for

Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.



Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a

hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under

a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the

house."



Ideas for prayer



- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you

- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving

Christ among Muslim people -



Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."

- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims

throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!



My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further

call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity



(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, atheists, secular humanists, ...)



7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada



http://www.ehc.ca



Day 30 of the Month



a) Pray for God's will to be done where you live and throughout

Canadian society, as it is in Heaven



( Matt 6:9-13



9 "Therefore pray in this manner:

Our Father who is in heaven,

hallowed be Your name.

10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;

Your will be done

on earth, as it is in heaven.

11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.

12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,

as we forgive our debtors.

13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.



9 After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.



)



b) Pray that in kindness God will lead many to repentance in your city

or community, and across our nation. (



Rom 2:4



4 (Ex 34:6; Isa 30:18) Do you despise the riches of His goodness,

tolerance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God

leads you to repentance?



4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance

and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth

thee to repentance?



)





Conclusion:





Pray to the Lord: "Father, help me to remember to call out to You

when the waters of life are rising, and help me to offer hope to others."



Pray to the Lord and pray to Him to know where eternal life begins.



Pray to the Lord and pray to Him to know Him as redeemer.



Pray to the Lord and pray to him to know Him as your Shield.



Pray for Muslims and believers in Whitehorse and the Yukon to come together,

and for Muslims to find faith in Jesus Christ.



Pray for Muslims and believers in Yellowknife to come together,

and for Muslims to find faith in Jesus Christ.



Pray that believers in Iqaluit take up Jesus' command to love and reach

their Muslim neighbours with the Gospel.



- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you

- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving

Christ among Muslim people -

Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."

- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims

throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!



Pray that God will enlighten those in medicine and health care

to acknowledge the sanctity of life and server with true

integrity and compassion



Pray that the Church in Canada will remember the poor

and compassionately respond to their plight



Pray for Christians in Sagar, Adamawa State Nigeria,

who have been under attack from Boko Haram.



Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.

and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.



Remember eternity starts now -

Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.

Does the Bible really say that Jesus is God? Shepherd

Does the Bible really say that Jesus is God?



Shepherd



God



Genesis 49:24



24 (Ps 132:2; 132:5) But his bow remained firm.

His arms were agile

because of the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob,

because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,



[24] But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made

strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the

shepherd, the stone of Israel:)



Psalm 23:1



1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.



1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.



Psalm 80:1



1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,

You who lead Joseph like a flock;

You who are enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth.



[1] Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock;

thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth.



Jesus



John 10:11



11 (Isa 40:11; Eze 34:23; Heb 13:20) "I am the good shepherd.

The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.



[11] I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the

sheep.



John 10:16



16 (Isa 56:8; Jn 11:52) I have other sheep who are not of this fold.

I must also bring them, and they will hear My voice. There will

be one flock and one shepherd.



[16] And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must

bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one

shepherd.



Hebrews 13:20



20 (Zec 9:11; Jn 10:11) Now may the God of peace, who through the blood

of the eternal covenant brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus,

the Great Shepherd of the sheep,



[20] Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus,

that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting

covenant,



1 Peter 2:25



25 (Isa 53:6; Ps 119:176)

For you were as sheep going astray, but now have been returned

to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.



[25] For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the

Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.



1 Peter 5:4



4 (1Co 9:25; Jas 1:12; 1Pe 1:4) And when the chief Shepherd appears,

you will receive a crown of glory that will not fade away.



[4] And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of

glory that fadeth not away.