All the Details

"My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts, says the Lord. And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."

Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT

We're reading the Bible in chronological order and just finished reading through Exodus. There are passages in the Old Testament where I tend to struggle to stay focused. In the early years, especially, I thought, "Why is this in here? What relevance does it have to now?" All the strange names of fathers and sons I couldn't pronounce, all the generations and how many there were... Did you ever wonder?

I've read about the Tabernacle in the wilderness with all the minute details of each piece and post, and the linen ephod, and the outerwear, and even the underwear for the priests. Without meaning any disrespect, my observation was that it somehow seemed tedious. However, now instead of wondering what relevance it has, I want to know WHY it is relevant. And I find myself asking, "Father, what is it You want me to learn in this?"

Let's face it. I'm not going to build a mobile tabernacle in the wilderness. I'm not going to sew linen ephods and add precious stones for the twelve tribes of Israel, but God chose to include all those details in His Word. And knowing that God wastes nothing, what is the purpose of all the details? And then I got it...

It is relevant BECAUSE of the details. He is I AM - the God of everything. The God of details. Every little thing matters to Him. He has a plan for everything and He wants it done according to HIS standard. He wants the best. He wants perfection. And His way is exactly that.

When He planned our salvation before the foundation of the world, He chose perfection. He planned every last detail. Yes, He provides us mercy and grace, but those are not to excuse our sin. Christ's death and resurrection did not make excuses for us; He made restitution for our debt of sin. Christ gave His WHOLE self for us. We, in turn, owe Him our life. All of it. Every last detail.

Prayer:

Father,
            As we come before You, help us to be open and give You all the details of our lives. Help us to understand that we must bring everything - our whole self - as an offering to You so that You can make us new. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

It's a Set Up

The Lord said to Moses, “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft. And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you: 

Exodus 31:1-6 ESV

When God first told Moses to go to Pharaoh, Moses kept spouting excuses as to why he couldn't do that. "Who am I to do that? Who are you? I have a speech impediment, I can't speak to Pharaoh or the elders." God assured Moses He made the mouth, He would make it work. Even though Moses couldn’t get past his own inefficiencies, God equipped Aaron to go with Moses. (You can read that part of the story in Exodus, chapters 3 - 4.)

So, here we are in chapter 31, and God has laid out all the instructions for making the mobile Tabernacle, and He has commanded many minute details of Moses and Aaron – neither of whom were capable of doing all that He commanded. Moses didn't have the background or ability to create what God had given him to do. So what did God do?  "And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you..."

How many times has God asked us to do something and we say no because we don't know how? "What is God thinking? Doesn't He know my background? Is He setting me up to fail?" No! No! And No!

God in His greatness, in His goodness, in His faithfulness, knows what we can and cannot do. However, He doesn’t leave us in our inabilities. If we are obedient to Him, He gives to us everything we need to carry out His plan and purpose for our lives – be it the ability in us or the ability of those He puts in our lives.

People fail, that's true. People’s plans fail; but God’s plan never fails. The Word assures us God can NOT fail. No matter what you see; no matter what you hear; no matter who is in leadership on the earth. Even when you don't understand it. God is in control. 

He has the plan and He HAS set us up - to succeed! 

Prayer:

Father,
          Too often, we believe our shortcomings and what we see more than we believe Your Word. Forgive us, O God. Forgive us for doubting You and for questioning Your every move. Lord, we surrender our will and our way to Yours. Help us to remember our walk is a walk of faith, and that faith is in You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

Overlooking the Details

These patriarchs were jealous of their brother Joseph, and they sold him to be a slave in Egypt. But God was with him and rescued him from all his troubles. And God gave him favor before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. God also gave Joseph unusual wisdom, so that Pharaoh appointed him governor over all of Egypt and put him in charge of the palace.
Acts 7:9-10 NLT

If Stephen's recitation was all we knew of Joseph's story, we might think everything was hunky-dory... After all, God was with him and rescued him from all his troubles, and gave him favor and also gave him unusual wisdom. Four sentences to cover 13 of the worst years of Joseph's life. He went from favorite son to betrayed brother, sold into slavery, to house servant, was falsely accused, and thrown into prison, then later appointed governor whereby he was in a position to save Israel and her patriarchs... the same patriarchs who sold him into slavery to begin with. This is Stephen's abbreviated version of Joseph's story from the pit to prison to the palace... basically to hell and back.

Four sentences to cover 13 years of obedience to God in every situation, despite all the suffering for doing the right thing, making the right choices in spite of great adversity, and following God's commandments. It's an incredible story. You can read it for yourself, beginning in Genesis, chapter 37.

The first time I ever read this I wondered why Stephen included Joseph's story if he was going to leave out all the pertinent details. Then the Holy Spirit pointed out that Stephen had included the two most important details...God was with him and rescued him from all his troubles.

We would do well to remember those same details when we feel like all hell has broken loose in our lives. That in spite of everything, God is with us and He will rescue us from all our troubles.

Prayer:

Father,
            Keep our eyes ever focused on You. Keep our hearts pure before You. Let us not be found faithless in the face of adversity. We want to faithfully serve You and care for others so that we are where You'd have us to be at the appointed time to fulfill Your purpose for our lives. Help us, O God. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Timing is Everything

On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

Acts 2:1-4 NLT

You may remember that the first Day of Pentecost was not Israel's finest hour. It was fifty days after sacrificing the first Passover Lamb - the Israelites left Egypt on Passover and 40 days later arrived at Sinai. Then Moses went up on Mount Sinai to see God. Ten days later Moses came down with the Torah to find that the Israelites had broken the covenant and 3000 people died as a result. 

Jesus died on Passover and then, 40 days later He went up on a mountain to see God (Mount of Olives). Then 10 days after Jesus ascended into Heaven, the Holy Spirit came down and 3000 people were saved! Did you make the connection that it was 1200 years later to the day? A new and living covenant!

It's no coincidence. God's love is borne out in the details. Ephesians 4:4-7, tells us, Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.

Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for the details! Holy Spirit, help us to not get lost in the details of this world, but to be fully immersed in every detailed evidence of God's love for us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Details

Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, 
God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. 
If we don’t know how or what to pray, 
it doesn’t matter. 
He does our praying in and for us, 
making prayer out of our wordless sighs, 
our aching groans. 

He knows us far better than we know ourselves, 
knows our pregnant condition, 
and keeps us present before God. 
That’s why we can be so sure 
that every detail in our lives of love for God 
is worked into something good.

Romans 8:26-28 The Message Bible

That, my friends, is everything I have to say tonight. 

Prayer:

Father,
          Thank You for music. Thank You for words. Thank You for Your Word that is Light and Life to us. Keep us ever mindful of this Truth. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Eternally

Therefore He is able also to save to the uttermost (completely, perfectly, finally, and for all time and eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He is always living to make petition to God and intercede with Him and intervene for them.
Hebrews 7:25 The Amplified Bible

One of the most frustrating things in life to me is to start a long-term process in great detail with one person and then, before it’s completed, have to pick up the process with someone new because the first person left. Details get lost in the process of bringing someone else up to speed. After the 2nd or 3rd time, one tends to take the short road, no matter how bumpy. You have all the history, you may even take all the files, but you don’t know if the new person will take the time to read all of that or if they'll even want to. Sometimes, it’s a project that has taken several years to define, only to be put on hold because of a change in management or leadership...

Sometimes, our lives are like that. If you've ever changed jobs or moved to a new town or did a combination of the two, it can feel a little crazy – okay, a LOT crazy – because it takes us out of our comfort zone, and we feel as though we have to start over finding those comfortable spots again. New mechanic, hairdresser, doctor, etc. However, our Scripture for today gives me hope. You see, as NOT perfect as I am at this point in my life, trust me when I tell you that through the Grace of God, there has been MUCH progress made overall. And no matter where His will takes me, no matter how many new people or systems come into my life, no matter how many are 'left behind' - the One Constant in my life is Him.

He is eternal. He knew me before I was formed in my mother’s womb. All of my days were numbered before I drew my first breath. There isn’t anything about me, good, bad or otherwise, that He doesn’t already know and has taken into account. I don’t have to worry about what He may find out that may color His opinion of me, He knows it all and loves me in spite of it. There isn’t anything in my present or my future that He doesn’t already know about and He has already made the way for me.

He might get angry with me, but with great mercies will He gather me unto Himself. (Isaiah 54:8)

He will never leave me, nor forsake me. (Hebrews 13:5)

His banner over me is love. (Song of Solomon 2:4)

He rejoices over me with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17)

I am safe in Him for all time. (Psalm 144:2)

Jesus is able to save me to the uttermost (completely, perfectly, finally, and for all time and eternity) because He is alive forever. He has risen indeed – Hallelujah!

Prayer:

Father,
           Lift our eyes to see the eternal, so that we don’t get stuck in the muck. You are our God, our Deliverer, Redeemer, Restorer, Refiner… Keep working in us, O Lord, so we come through the fire as pure gold; Fit to do Your will. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

Friends' Favorites - Lifetime Guarantee

No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.
Joshua 1:5

You probably know the story - Twelve men go to spy out the land - one from each of the tribes of Israel. Did I mention that it was to the Promised Land they were going? Promised...by God.

God Himself said, "I will give it to you." So, twelve men go to check it out. Ten come back and say, "No way, no how, not ever, not now."

Joshua and Caleb stand and say, "We are well able to take the land."

Who did the people believe? They believed the report of the ten. The ten who reported the facts, not the two who reported the Truth. Facts may be true, but God's Word - His Truth - ALWAYS overrides facts when we choose to believe Him. What the ten reported about the land was all true. But Joshua and Caleb reported God's Truth - reported through the eyes of faith in Him. "We are well able to take the land." 

God said He would give them the land. For Joshua and Caleb, strong and courageous, that was enough. As a result, from the original group of Jews (over the age of twenty) who left Egypt, Joshua and Caleb were the only two to enter the Promised Land.

Right before Moses died, God summoned Moses and Joshua to the mountain and laid out the plan. He told them how the people would rebel, but Joshua was to lead them anyway. God told him, (Deuteronomy 31:23), "I will be with you."  Joshua believed His Truth.

Moses delivered the Word of the Lord to the people and instructed them to, Take to heart all the words of warning I have given you today. Pass them on as a command to your children so they will obey every word of these instructions. These instructions are not empty words—they are your life! By obeying them you will enjoy a long life... 

If you read the story in Deuteronomy and in Joshua, you'll find very interesting details. The bottom line - God said it. It's enough. Yes, there will be battles. Yes, there will be trials. Yes, you will have to be brave and courageous. But He said it. He promised. Do what He says and He'll always be with you. Old Testament - New Testament. The Promise is there. Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age... A Lifetime Guarantee.

Prayer:

Father,
         Open our hearts to receive Your Word. Open our ears to hear Your Truth no matter what else we see or hear.  In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen 

Friends' Favorite - Every Last Detail

I am come that they might have life...
John 10:10b

This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.
John 15:12-14 NLT

There are passages in the Old Testament where I tend to struggle to stay focused. In the early years, especially, I thought, "Why is this in here? What relevance does it have to now?" All the strange names of fathers and sons I couldn't pronounce, of all the generations and how many there were... Did you ever wonder?

I've read about the Tabernacle in the wilderness with all the minute details of each piece and post, and the linen ephod, and the outerwear, and even the underwear for the priests. Without meaning any disrespect, my observation was that it seems somehow tedious. However, now instead of wondering what relevance it has, I want to know WHY it is relevant. And I find myself asking, "Father, what is it You want me to learn in this?"

Let's face it. I'm not going to build a mobile tabernacle in the wilderness. I'm not going to sew linen ephods and add precious stones for the twelve tribes of Israel, but God chose to include all those details in His Word. And knowing that God wastes nothing, what is the purpose of all the details? And then I got it...

It is relevant because of the details. He is I AM - the God of everything. The God of details. Every little thing matters to Him. He has a plan for everything and He wants it done according to HIS standard. He wants the best. He wants perfection. And His way is exactly that.

When He planned our salvation before the foundation of the world, He chose perfection. He planned every last detail. Yes, He provides us mercy and grace, but those are not to excuse our sin. Christ's death and resurrection did not make excuses for us; He made restitution for our debt of sin. Christ gave His WHOLE self for us. We, in turn, owe Him our life. All of it. Every last detail.

Prayer:

Father,
            As we come before You, help us to be open and give You all the details of our lives. Help us to understand that we must bring everything - our whole self - as an offering to You so that You can make us new. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Every Last Detail

My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts, says the Lord. And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT

There are passages in the Old Testament where I tend to struggle to stay focused. In the early years, especially, I thought, "Why is this in here? What relevance does it have to now?" All the strange names of fathers and sons I couldn't pronounce, all the generations and how many there were... Did you ever wonder?

I've read about the Tabernacle in the wilderness with all the minute details of each piece and post, and the linen ephod, and the outerwear, and even the underwear for the priests. Without meaning any disrespect, my observation was that it seems somehow tedious. However, now instead of wondering what relevance it has, I want to know WHY it is relevant. And I find myself asking, "Father, what is it You want me to learn in this?"

Let's face it. I'm not going to build a mobile tabernacle in the wilderness. I'm not going to sew linen ephods and add precious stones for the twelve tribes of Israel, but God chose to include all those details in His Word. And knowing that God wastes nothing, what is the purpose of all the details? And then I got it...

It is relevant because of the details. He is I AM - the God of everything. The God of details. Every little thing matters to Him. He has a plan for everything and He wants it done according to HIS standard. He wants the best. He wants perfection. And His way is exactly that.

When He planned our salvation before the foundation of the world, He chose perfection. He planned every last detail. Yes, He provides us mercy and grace, but those are not to excuse our sin. Christ's death and resurrection did not make excuses for us; He made restitution for our debt of sin. Christ gave His WHOLE self for us. We, in turn, owe Him our life. All of it. Every last detail.

Prayer:

Father,
            As we come before You, help us to be open and give You all the details of our lives. Help us to understand that we must bring everything - our whole self - as an offering to You so that You can make us new. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen