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
Monday, February 8, 2016
Sunday, February 7, 2016
* A Servant's Heart
But you have not been like my servant David, who obeyed my commands and followed me with all his heart and always did whatever I wanted.
1st Kings 14:8b NLT
This Scripture is an excerpt, albeit taken out of context from a prophecy against Jeroboam, but it hits me right between the eyes. As does Matthew 7:21-23, “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ That one scares me.
There is a HUGE difference between serving and actually having a servant's heart toward the Master. They are not even close to being the same thing. I can serve because I feel it is the right thing to do, but still not have a servant's heart.
We want Him as Saviour, Redeemer, Healer, Provider, etc, but if we've ever argued with God about something we did not want to do or something we did not want to change, then we have not always done whatever He wanted. We have not made Him Lord. Luke 6:46 NLT, “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?"
Prayer:
Father,
Forgive me of my foolish, self-centered focus in life. Change my heart, O God! Make it pure. Give me a servant's heart, one whose only desire is to serve You as Lord and Master. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen
1st Kings 14:8b NLT
This Scripture is an excerpt, albeit taken out of context from a prophecy against Jeroboam, but it hits me right between the eyes. As does Matthew 7:21-23, “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ That one scares me.
There is a HUGE difference between serving and actually having a servant's heart toward the Master. They are not even close to being the same thing. I can serve because I feel it is the right thing to do, but still not have a servant's heart.
We want Him as Saviour, Redeemer, Healer, Provider, etc, but if we've ever argued with God about something we did not want to do or something we did not want to change, then we have not always done whatever He wanted. We have not made Him Lord. Luke 6:46 NLT, “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?"
Prayer:
Father,
Forgive me of my foolish, self-centered focus in life. Change my heart, O God! Make it pure. Give me a servant's heart, one whose only desire is to serve You as Lord and Master. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen
Saturday, February 6, 2016
*Nothing More, Nothing Less
Then Moses went down to the people and repeated all the instructions and regulations the Lord had given him. All the people answered with one voice, “We will do everything the Lord has commanded.”
Exodus 24:3 NLT
They'd been freed from the slavery of Egypt. They'd been rescued from their enemies at the Red Sea. They'd been saved from hunger by food that fell from Heaven, and from dying of thirst by water pouring out of a rock. They were kept warm by fire at night and shaded from the desert sun with the cloud by day. God was making EVERY provision for them, despite their whining and complaining...
Finally, FINALLY, they respond in one voice, "We will do everything the Lord has commanded." Music to God's ears, I'm sure. Moses carefully writes it all down and reads it to them the very next morning and they respond the same way, “We will do everything the Lord has commanded.”
Then God tells Moses to come on up so He can give Moses the explicit instructions about His plan and how it's to be done. And in about a month and a half - 47 days - the people forget all about their escape from Egypt, and walking through the Red Sea on dry land, and the Book of the Covenant and their response; “We will do everything the Lord has commanded.” They want something hands-on to satisfy their immediate desires and Moses' brother, Aaron, their spiritual leader, goes along with THEIR plan, and then tries to combine their idol worship with a festival to the Lord. Unbelievable... or is it?
God provides for us on a daily basis. And it's all well and good while we're seeing His active intervention in our lives, but what about when we are waiting for an answer or an instruction for what to do next? His Word instructs us to wait, to listen and to obey. Do we? Or do we go with what WE think will work and then try to incorporate that (our will) into what should be His worship, His way? Unbelievable... or is it? If we stop looking at what we can't do, what we don't have, we might be able to see what we CAN do through Christ, and what we DO have because of God's hand of provision.
God's instructions are for our good. We each have a part. He hasn't asked me to do your part - or you to do my part, but He does expect us to do everything He has commanded us. Nothing more. NOTHING less.
Prayer:
Father,
Your Word says You give power to the weak and strength to the powerless. It also assures us that we can be confident that we will see the Lord’s goodness while we are here in the land of the living. Help us to wait patiently for You, Lord. Cause us to be brave and courageous, so we may do all that You have commanded us. Nothing more. NOTHING less. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Exodus 24:3 NLT
They'd been freed from the slavery of Egypt. They'd been rescued from their enemies at the Red Sea. They'd been saved from hunger by food that fell from Heaven, and from dying of thirst by water pouring out of a rock. They were kept warm by fire at night and shaded from the desert sun with the cloud by day. God was making EVERY provision for them, despite their whining and complaining...
Finally, FINALLY, they respond in one voice, "We will do everything the Lord has commanded." Music to God's ears, I'm sure. Moses carefully writes it all down and reads it to them the very next morning and they respond the same way, “We will do everything the Lord has commanded.”
Then God tells Moses to come on up so He can give Moses the explicit instructions about His plan and how it's to be done. And in about a month and a half - 47 days - the people forget all about their escape from Egypt, and walking through the Red Sea on dry land, and the Book of the Covenant and their response; “We will do everything the Lord has commanded.” They want something hands-on to satisfy their immediate desires and Moses' brother, Aaron, their spiritual leader, goes along with THEIR plan, and then tries to combine their idol worship with a festival to the Lord. Unbelievable... or is it?
God provides for us on a daily basis. And it's all well and good while we're seeing His active intervention in our lives, but what about when we are waiting for an answer or an instruction for what to do next? His Word instructs us to wait, to listen and to obey. Do we? Or do we go with what WE think will work and then try to incorporate that (our will) into what should be His worship, His way? Unbelievable... or is it? If we stop looking at what we can't do, what we don't have, we might be able to see what we CAN do through Christ, and what we DO have because of God's hand of provision.
God's instructions are for our good. We each have a part. He hasn't asked me to do your part - or you to do my part, but He does expect us to do everything He has commanded us. Nothing more. NOTHING less.
Prayer:
Father,
Your Word says You give power to the weak and strength to the powerless. It also assures us that we can be confident that we will see the Lord’s goodness while we are here in the land of the living. Help us to wait patiently for You, Lord. Cause us to be brave and courageous, so we may do all that You have commanded us. Nothing more. NOTHING less. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Thursday, February 4, 2016
Always an Opportunity *
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
James 1:2-4 NLT
"Consider it an opportunity for great joy" was NOT the first thought in my head when earlier today, I spilled an entire bowl of steaming potato soup down the front of myself and down the right side of my desk (drawer side) and ultimately, all over the floor. As if that mess was not enough, it was compounded by the fact that I'm recovering from a full hip replacement and cannot kneel down, nor bend more than a 90° angle. I was both angry and frustrated. Yes, I could have called one of several people, but in the heat of the moment... no pun intended. It was the third challenge of the day and only midday.
It was about 10 minutes of trying to figure out how I was going to clean it up before this Scripture in James made its way into a conscious thought. My first response was, "Seriously?!? I'm having a hard time seeing this as an opportunity for great joy." But within seconds, I began to see and acknowledge that there were MANY opportunities for joy.
I know - in the big scheme of life and all that is going on in the world today, what's a spilled bowl of soup? For me, it was an opportunity to acknowledge God's hand of provision and protection in everything. An opportunity to give thanks in every situation. An opportunity for great joy - For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. And an opportunity for me to encourage you that there is ALWAYS an opportunity to give thanks in all things.
(1st Thessalonians 5:18)
Prayer:
Father,
As You well know, oftentimes, it can be the little things in life that derail us. Thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit to comfort and guide us into all truth. Thank You for loving us so much. Help us to see only what YOU want us to see. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
James 1:2-4 NLT
"Consider it an opportunity for great joy" was NOT the first thought in my head when earlier today, I spilled an entire bowl of steaming potato soup down the front of myself and down the right side of my desk (drawer side) and ultimately, all over the floor. As if that mess was not enough, it was compounded by the fact that I'm recovering from a full hip replacement and cannot kneel down, nor bend more than a 90° angle. I was both angry and frustrated. Yes, I could have called one of several people, but in the heat of the moment... no pun intended. It was the third challenge of the day and only midday.
It was about 10 minutes of trying to figure out how I was going to clean it up before this Scripture in James made its way into a conscious thought. My first response was, "Seriously?!? I'm having a hard time seeing this as an opportunity for great joy." But within seconds, I began to see and acknowledge that there were MANY opportunities for joy.
- This morning, it was a little chilly here (and being a Texas girl, I was not thankful for that initially), but because it was chilly, I was wearing sweatpants, so I was not burned by the soup.
- All the desk drawers were closed and no soup got in my papers.
- It was thick potato soup and not Tex-Mex Potato Soup, so it didn't flow too far.
- Because it was thick, I was able to sweep a lot of it into a dust pan, discovering that I have developed some real skill in using the "Grip & Grab" tool to finagle the dust pan into the dry bucket, and being able to grip the paper towels, etc.
- I'm thankful for Swiffer© products that I had in stock to clean it well.
- I'm even thankful for the generic brand refills that didn't work before, but worked well today to actually dry the floor so I wouldn't slip and fall - even down to being thin enough to slide under the desk to remove any minute traces of spillage.
- And last, but certainly not least - There was more potato soup. (smiling!)
I know - in the big scheme of life and all that is going on in the world today, what's a spilled bowl of soup? For me, it was an opportunity to acknowledge God's hand of provision and protection in everything. An opportunity to give thanks in every situation. An opportunity for great joy - For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. And an opportunity for me to encourage you that there is ALWAYS an opportunity to give thanks in all things.
(1st Thessalonians 5:18)
Prayer:
Father,
As You well know, oftentimes, it can be the little things in life that derail us. Thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit to comfort and guide us into all truth. Thank You for loving us so much. Help us to see only what YOU want us to see. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
* Make Sure You Hear
The Lord said to Moses, “Write this reminder on a scroll, and make sure that Joshua hears it, too: I will completely erase any memory of the Amalekites from the earth.”
Exodus 17:14 God's Word Translation
This particular battle (where Joshua defeated the Amalekites while Moses was on the mountain with Aaron and Hur holding up his hands) took place about 1446 BC; 40 years before the death of Moses and the subsequent transition to Joshua's leadership. There was no mention of Joshua being the next in line to inherit Moses' position with the Israelites; there was no defined rite of passage.
One particular phrase of this verse leapt out at me this morning. I remembered the part about writing it down and erasing any memory of the Amalekites, but I didn't remember the part about making sure that Joshua would hear it, too. I researched in several translations and it was in all of them - to be certain, to tell it in the ear, to rehearse it, to make sure Joshua heard it, too.
Moses may not have known, Joshua may not have had any inkling, but God's plan was already set in motion. He knew the faithfulness of Joshua. His level of obedience to the letter. Joshua's passion to believe and act on whatever He said without question. Forty years beforehand - 40 years being the symbolism of a time of trial and testing, a type of probationary period. However, Joshua did not know it was a probationary period. It was Joshua's daily choices that allowed him to fulfill God's purpose in and for his life. Joshua CHOSE a lifestyle of faithfulness, obedience and faith.
What is God saying to us in our seemingly insignificant (to us) times that have great bearing on our eternal purpose? Know this - God does not waste words. There is absolutely NOTHING insignificant when it comes to God's plan. Are we listening? We better make sure we hear - and obey!
Prayer:
Father,
We love Your Word. Remove from our lives the people, places and things that distract us and detract from Your plan and purpose for us. We want to be faithful and obedient like Joshua. We want to fulfill our purpose for You. Help us, O God! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Exodus 17:14 God's Word Translation
This particular battle (where Joshua defeated the Amalekites while Moses was on the mountain with Aaron and Hur holding up his hands) took place about 1446 BC; 40 years before the death of Moses and the subsequent transition to Joshua's leadership. There was no mention of Joshua being the next in line to inherit Moses' position with the Israelites; there was no defined rite of passage.
One particular phrase of this verse leapt out at me this morning. I remembered the part about writing it down and erasing any memory of the Amalekites, but I didn't remember the part about making sure that Joshua would hear it, too. I researched in several translations and it was in all of them - to be certain, to tell it in the ear, to rehearse it, to make sure Joshua heard it, too.
Moses may not have known, Joshua may not have had any inkling, but God's plan was already set in motion. He knew the faithfulness of Joshua. His level of obedience to the letter. Joshua's passion to believe and act on whatever He said without question. Forty years beforehand - 40 years being the symbolism of a time of trial and testing, a type of probationary period. However, Joshua did not know it was a probationary period. It was Joshua's daily choices that allowed him to fulfill God's purpose in and for his life. Joshua CHOSE a lifestyle of faithfulness, obedience and faith.
What is God saying to us in our seemingly insignificant (to us) times that have great bearing on our eternal purpose? Know this - God does not waste words. There is absolutely NOTHING insignificant when it comes to God's plan. Are we listening? We better make sure we hear - and obey!
Prayer:
Father,
We love Your Word. Remove from our lives the people, places and things that distract us and detract from Your plan and purpose for us. We want to be faithful and obedient like Joshua. We want to fulfill our purpose for You. Help us, O God! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
* Name the Place
And he called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”
Exodus 17:7 NIV
For so many different reasons, I really like reading the book of Exodus. Every time I read through it, I catch something else I didn't actually see before. I love how God's Word is alive and always so relevant.
In our text for today, it's the part of the story regarding the provision of manna and water from the rock. One would think in a desert, the Israelites would have been thrilled to have provision, but they'd already been complaining about literally everything since they began their exodus from Egypt. (However, if you remember, they complained about everything while they were in Egypt, too.)
It was the custom to name a place or landmark by the major events that occurred there. As in today's text, Massah means testing and Meribah means quarreling. They demanded of Moses, "Is the Lord among us or not?" because they weren't seeing results they thought they should be seeing. Ouch...
Don't we do the very same thing? We petition the Lord and then expect it to be accomplished the way we think it should be done. Well, perhaps I shouldn't answer for you, but I know I do exactly that. And when it's not done on my preconceived schedule or in the way I would do it, I even have the nerve to ask God where He is... Oh, Father, forgive me.
What will be the name of the places where we have met with God? Think about that for a moment. If you don't like what you think it might be called, ask God to change it. With our proper response to HIS calling, God has no problem giving us a new Name.
Prayer:
Father,
Forgive us for testing You and quarreling and complaining when things don't go as we have planned. In our hearts, Lord, we want to follow Your plan. Help us, O God, to learn Your ways and to trust them. Give us wisdom and understanding, in Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Exodus 17:7 NIV
For so many different reasons, I really like reading the book of Exodus. Every time I read through it, I catch something else I didn't actually see before. I love how God's Word is alive and always so relevant.
In our text for today, it's the part of the story regarding the provision of manna and water from the rock. One would think in a desert, the Israelites would have been thrilled to have provision, but they'd already been complaining about literally everything since they began their exodus from Egypt. (However, if you remember, they complained about everything while they were in Egypt, too.)
It was the custom to name a place or landmark by the major events that occurred there. As in today's text, Massah means testing and Meribah means quarreling. They demanded of Moses, "Is the Lord among us or not?" because they weren't seeing results they thought they should be seeing. Ouch...
Don't we do the very same thing? We petition the Lord and then expect it to be accomplished the way we think it should be done. Well, perhaps I shouldn't answer for you, but I know I do exactly that. And when it's not done on my preconceived schedule or in the way I would do it, I even have the nerve to ask God where He is... Oh, Father, forgive me.
What will be the name of the places where we have met with God? Think about that for a moment. If you don't like what you think it might be called, ask God to change it. With our proper response to HIS calling, God has no problem giving us a new Name.
Prayer:
Father,
Forgive us for testing You and quarreling and complaining when things don't go as we have planned. In our hearts, Lord, we want to follow Your plan. Help us, O God, to learn Your ways and to trust them. Give us wisdom and understanding, in Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Monday, February 1, 2016
* Nothing I Can Do
When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.”
Exodus 13:17 NIV
When I travel, I look at all the routes. I want the quickest one with the least amount of hindrances along the way. When I fly, I want non-stop. And I know I'm not the only one. However, even the best-laid travel plans don't always work out the way we expect. Sometimes there's a detour; sometimes a traffic jam. Or in this case for the Israelites, the Red Sea.
If God had given me the choice on which route to take - whether I would want to fight or cross a body of water - I'd go for the fight every time. I can't help but think that some of the Israelites were already wondering why they didn't just go through the country. It's not like God didn't know where the sea was.
If I put myself in their place - I've got my family and my livestock and I'm facing the Red Sea with the Egyptian army in hot pursuit right behind me. In my mind, there's no way out. There is nothing I can do.
How many times in our lives have we been at a similar junction? The bills are overwhelming, the illness that no one could foresee or prevent, the circumstances over which we have no control. And we wonder, "Why?!?" We've tried to follow God. We've tried to hear His voice. And yet here we are at our own version of the Red Sea with no way out. Nothing we can do.
And that's just it. We MUST learn to trust God! To follow Him wherever He leads us, and in the process, we learn (hopefully) that HE is in control. If He's led us to this place, He already has our way out made for us and He will do it. We can't see it, but that's why it's called faith. And just like He did for the Israelites, He will use that same path to wipe out whatever is trying to keep us in bondage or destroy us.
What we CAN do is faithfully follow Him, no matter what it looks like.
Prayer:
Father,
Thank You for being the Way Maker. Help us to lay down our own reasoning and those ways that seem right to us, and choose instead to follow the leading of Your Holy Spirit. May we ever be open to hear AND obey whatever You speak to our hearts. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Exodus 13:17 NIV
When I travel, I look at all the routes. I want the quickest one with the least amount of hindrances along the way. When I fly, I want non-stop. And I know I'm not the only one. However, even the best-laid travel plans don't always work out the way we expect. Sometimes there's a detour; sometimes a traffic jam. Or in this case for the Israelites, the Red Sea.
If God had given me the choice on which route to take - whether I would want to fight or cross a body of water - I'd go for the fight every time. I can't help but think that some of the Israelites were already wondering why they didn't just go through the country. It's not like God didn't know where the sea was.
If I put myself in their place - I've got my family and my livestock and I'm facing the Red Sea with the Egyptian army in hot pursuit right behind me. In my mind, there's no way out. There is nothing I can do.
How many times in our lives have we been at a similar junction? The bills are overwhelming, the illness that no one could foresee or prevent, the circumstances over which we have no control. And we wonder, "Why?!?" We've tried to follow God. We've tried to hear His voice. And yet here we are at our own version of the Red Sea with no way out. Nothing we can do.
And that's just it. We MUST learn to trust God! To follow Him wherever He leads us, and in the process, we learn (hopefully) that HE is in control. If He's led us to this place, He already has our way out made for us and He will do it. We can't see it, but that's why it's called faith. And just like He did for the Israelites, He will use that same path to wipe out whatever is trying to keep us in bondage or destroy us.
What we CAN do is faithfully follow Him, no matter what it looks like.
Prayer:
Father,
Thank You for being the Way Maker. Help us to lay down our own reasoning and those ways that seem right to us, and choose instead to follow the leading of Your Holy Spirit. May we ever be open to hear AND obey whatever You speak to our hearts. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
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