Monthly Archives: December 2013

Don’t Go There

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avoid

Today’s Devotion: Numbers 14

Have you ever been in a conversation, when all of a sudden the topic at hand takes a turn and the person stops you and says, “Don’t go there!” These are words that say, “Stop, you have crossed a boundary and this is not something that needs to be brought up.” I thought of this phrase as I read Numbers chapter 14. When Moses and Aaron warned the Israelites to stop going to the land of Canaan because God wasn’t with them – but they didn’t listen. Look at verse 41-42a, “But Moses said, “Why are you disobeying the LORD’s command? This will not succeed! Do not go up, because the LORD is not with you. You will be defeated by your enemies.”

If these words have a tone to them, I hear them pleading. Not just asking, not just saying – pleading. At this point they had turned from the land (future), but as they face the wilderness (present), they are actually more afraid of the wilderness (past) than they had been afraid of entering the land. In other words, they fear their past more than they fear the future so they proceed to pursue the future, but forgot one important component…. God!

The message that I take away is that we shouldn’t be so discontent in our present that we press on to change ourselves, our future and our circumstances without God. God needs to be our leader and our guide. He can work in our current circumstances and He can take us where we want to go, but His timing is everything. If we go alone and He is not with us, our plans will not succeed.

Please pray with me.

Father God. There is a big gap between where we are and where we want to be. The past and present is certain to us – it is our reality, while our future is unknown. You ask us to walk  by faith and not by sight, which propels us to leap to the future and trust that you will deliver us from our current circumstances and have a brighter future, but what if you’re not there? What if we act in accordance to our will and not your will, in faith, that you will make all things work for the good? Let us not be ignorant, as the Israelities acted in Numbers chapter 14. We don’t want to be ungrateful, disobedient servants. We have hearts to honor and obey you, but we also know that you desire good for us. Please give us the discernment to hear your call, patience to wait on your timing, and courage to proceed according to your will. Father, please be the lamp unto our feet and the light unto our paths. ~Amen!”

My Size, God Size

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sizeup

Today’s Devotion: Numbers 13

They say I’m petite. I find myself looking up when talking to other people. Sometimes, standing amongst a crowd can be very intimidating because it becomes even more obvious that I am significantly shorter and that’s both with or without heels.

Does size matter? I’ve been in martial arts long enough to know that I will never win a fight with strength. Perhaps its my size or perhaps its my gender, but even when I was in the best shape of my life, I never took for granted that most people, just in mere size, were stronger than me. I most certainly recognize that the fight I have the best chance of winning is to not be in the fight at all.

So here we have the Iraelities, spying on the land that they were told, by God, that they would conquer. Instead of trusting God, they size up the enemy and become intimidated. Verse  33, “We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”

Grasshoppers? That’s the best they can do? Describe themselves as poor, helpless grasshoppers? Talk about losing a fight before you ever step into the ring!

What problems do we face in our lives that seem “too big?” Our minds are a battlefield and the older I get, the more I am convinced that the mind will take the easy way out or assume the worst most often. This survival tactic then leads us to one conclusion – avoidance.

Sure, that can be wisdom as a result of having done things the hard way before or had bad things happen when we had the best of intentions, but this is really not where God wants us when it comes to faith. He wants us to do what is right, not just take the easy road, and He wants us to trust in Him because through Him all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26).

As we continue to read though the books of the Old Testament, we will continue to see how man is weak and God is strong. If we depend on Him, trust in Him and obey Him – life will be much more fulfilling and we’d get to our goals expeditiously. Instead, we avoid [perceived] challenges, let the enemy intimidate us, and delay God’s goodness that He has planned for us. Next time we see a situation that appears to be too big, too hard or too overwhelming – let that be our Que to know that we don’t have to do it alone – God will get it done.

More “You” and Less “Me”

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Humility

Today’s Devotion: Numbers 12

A short chapter that is packed with teaching, but my favorite is found in verse 3 “(Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)”  Not only are the words themselves saying something, but the fact that they are in parentheses gives it extra attention and emphasis.

So we’re kicking off the new week with humility. I think that is an excellent way to start. As we approach our work, families and trials that we face (and any number of them that could be), I think it is a great place to enter the day and week.

My family has a Christmas tradition. Every December we read a chapter a day in the book of Luke. There are 24 days until Christmas and 24 chapters of Luke. I love this yearly reminder of the story of Jesus – his birth, life, and resurrection. It truly brings the meaning of Christmas to the forefront of the chaotic season. Sure, this is a random tangent, but I do have a point. My point is that we just read Luke chapter 14 and the majority of the chapter is about humility – taking the lowest seat at the banquet table, the cost of being a disciple and verse 11 says it best, “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

So how can we be humble today. To me, humility means to esteem others not yourself. To make everyone around you feel significant, valuable, appreciated and accepted. Using the word “I” less and “You” more. Serving others and seeking ways to meet their needs rather than your own and giving credit, not taking credit.

The bible has a lot to say about humility and God clearly loves humility, especially in Moses as taught in Numbers chapter 12. I think the fact that Moses was recognized for it is for us to know that it is a character trait that God wants and we need to be. Let’s proceed confidently into the day with humility.

Wait Until Your Father Gets Home

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FINGER

Today’s Devotion: Numbers 11

I was fortunate to have an at-home Mom when I was growing up. There were days when my two brothers and I were a bit too much for her to handle. Generally, she would hold the line and usher the discipline, but there were those other days when our energy could not be harnessed and we would see her finger point while she declared those haunting words, “You just wait until your father gets home.”

Once we heard that, our attention shifted from the playfulness, rebelliousness and rambunctiousness to strategizing what we could do to minimize the spanking that awaited us when Mom told Dad about her day.

I remembered this when I read the first verse of Numbers 10. “Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the LORD, and when he heard them his anger was aroused. Then fire from the LORD burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp.” Uh-oh, God’s mad! Rightfully so, He helped them escape slavery and what does He get? Tribes of Israelities complaining that His provisions are good enough for them.

If I read between the lines, God does not like whiners and complainers. As a matter of fact, in this passage, He gets very angry. Fast forward to today and I look at my life as it relates to this message and I’m guilty! Guilt of praying for things and circumstances that will make me happy. I may not be praying for meat instead of manna, but I do pray for material possessions, relationships that are challenging and for things to work out “my way.”

Shame on me! I hear God reminding me of 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18, “Pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Today I’m going to hold my head high, I’m going to be thankful for all God has blessed me with and praise Him for all He has given me and done for me. I appreciate His words this morning to put in perspective how we need to recognize the blessings and all He has done for us, instead of complaining and whining.

 

Time To Move

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moving

Today’s Devotion: Numbers 10

This chapter is the beginning of the wilderness march describing how early one morning the people of Israel strike camp because the pillar of cloud is lifted. Each family packs their things; the tabernacle is taken down. The time has come to move.

I can’t help but think about life as a wilderness. Each day we get up and we proceed to move. Move where? Well, that all depends. What is the goal? I have had days where I hit the ground running and there are other days that no matter what is on my agenda, something or someone, redirects my course. That’s not good or bad… it just is.

So, if life is a wilderness and you buy into this metaphor you’ll agree that without a goal, a leader, or even a plan – we wander. Numbers chapter 10 reminds me of that I need goals. Daily goals and goals for what I am seeking out of my life.

What is my goal in life? Well, I would have to say it would be to hear those words, “Well done good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:21) My leader is God, John 12:26, “Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me,” and my plan is to read and study God’s Word to grow. 2 Peter 3:18, “Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.“

It sure makes this wilderness world a lot more navigable and purposeful doesn’t it? What if today is the trumpet call on our lives and our que to move? Perhaps its a bit overwhelming to think about the whole wilderness all at once, but we can take it day-by-day. He’s get us there.

Wait On The LORD? What!

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Now

Today’s Devotion: Numbers 9

Oh. So. Cool!

The Israelities go to Moses asking if they can worship God and participate in the Passover. See here in verses 6-7, “But some of them could not celebrate the Passover on that day because they were ceremonially unclean on account of a dead body. So they came to Moses and Aaron that same day and said to Moses, ‘We have become unclean because of a dead body, but why should we be kept from presenting the LORD’s offering with the other Israelites at the appointed time?'”

Moses doesn’t say, “Oh, sure, of course. That should be fine. It doesn’t matter that you have been deemed unclean. Since you’re going to worship God, why wouldn’t God want that. Go ahead, worship away.” Instead Moses says, “8 Moses answered them, “Wait until I find out what the LORD commands concerning you.”

What?!

I manage people and occasionally someone on my team will ask me for something and I quickly weigh the positives and negatives. If the good outweigh the bad, I proceed to approve their request. If my team came to me and said I want to do something that will glorify God, I wouldn’t want to stand in the way of their relationship with God, an opportunity to serve Him or their own spiritual growth. The last thing I think I would do is tell them to wait until I hear from the LORD, so I could make a decision.

Today, God is reminding me (and you, if you’re reading this) that we DO need to wait on His decisions, answers and commands. Even those that seem ‘right’ at the time, still need God’s guidance. I’m honestly in awe of this today. Perhaps I have become very comfortable in speaking for God in certain circumstances and this is my remember to go to God first to hear what He wants to say, tells me how to lead and guides me in His ways – not mine.

I’m thankful today for this lesson and this perspective and I pray God will give us the ability to stop ourselves from speaking on behalf of the LORD, patience to wait for His answers and wisdom to know how to make Godly decisions, not our own decisions independent of Him.

Revealing Ugliness

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lamp

Today’s Devotion: Numbers 8

The important thing for the child of God today is not how you walk, but where you walk. “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). You see, the light is emphasized in this chapter and I read it to mean that when you walk in the light, you see that there is imperfection in your life. Then you go to the laver to remove it, which symbolizes the confession of your sins.

Have you ever washed something, like your kitchen floor, and walked away as though it were clean. Upon return you turn on the light and all of a sudden streaks appear or the corners that once hid dirt revealed all of your ‘missed spots.’ If not your kitchen floor, I’m sure you can visualize something that you thought was clean, until you put it under a light.

This is how it is with sin. We think we’re clean, after all, we shower almost every day. That is until we begin reading God’s Word and realize that we’re not so clean, sin makes us dirty. Jesus is the light in our lives who reveals the ugly parts of our hearts and souls. Even when we come to the Him in praise and think everything is all good – it’s not all that good.

My takeaway from this chapter today is to be reminded that I need to take this time to pause and pray, repent and rejoice. I don’t need some ceremonial process in the tabernacle to cleanse me (wash away) my sin. I have Jesus. I’m also not some martyr who keeps trying to find my dirt to bury myself in self-misery or self-loathing. It’s the reverse. I’m acknowledging my sin, my need for a savior and the price Jesus paid that I have life and have it to the fullest none-the-less! (John10:10)

So here I am, about to start another day that God has given me, with a Godly perspective on what it means to walk in the light.

Gifts That Count

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gifts

Today’s Devotion: Numbers 7

The second to the longest chapter in the bible and a very monotonous chapter at that. Eighty-nine verses and very repetitive as it describes each of the gifts that the princes brought to the tabernacle from each of the twelve tribes. My mind wandered as I read this chapter (confession), and I couldn’t help thinking about the song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” Every time the chapter shares which gift the prince presented I thought, “And a partridge in a pear tree!” I hope you see the humor – I was simply feeling the warm of the Christmas season as my Christmas tree glistens next to me, 12 tribes, 12 princes, 12 gifts.

Although, this chapter is much more serious than that; a very important message to you and me today. As much as this chapter seems to repeat itself, one of my applications that I believe God was speaking to my heart is how much He notices what we give. Some of the princes, namely the very first two, gave the identical gift. God couldn’t have said, “The first two princes gave a silver platter?”No! He spends paragraphs/verses describing it.

Why? Because we bring Him gifts and He pays attention – He notices. This is convicting to me because I just adjusted my monthly budget and reduced my offering. After all, its Christmas, I just got my tax bill in the mail, I’m going to be moving at the end of the month and with moving comes additional expenses. I justified, to myself, that I would ramp up my offering after things settled down.

I realize this is my issue and I’m personalizing God’s message to my circumstances, but that’s the beauty of God’s Word. It’s how He speaks to each and every one of us. You can read chapter 7 and get something completely different. If you do, and He does, please share it if you are comfortable.

The message I have for this cold, Wisconsin, Monday morning is that God cares. He cares not only what we give, but in the spirit in which we give it. God will continue to bless our Christmas season, provide for our tax bill and incur the cost of a move. It’s my flesh the fears, tries to control and withhold from the LORD feeling as if I need to “take care of things.” If you are feeling anxious about finances this season, based on what God showed me today, I have to say, “Put your trust in the LORD!”

Don’t Vow Lightly

Posted in Daily Devotions: Chapter by Chapter, Reflections From My Heart by

heavy-heart

Today’s Devotion: Numbers 6

I write this with a heavy heart. Sometimes I read God’s word and I am reminded of just how small I am in the bigger picture of God’s greater plan. Here in chapter 6 we learn about the Nazarite vow. Essentially, any man or woman of Israel could take a vow for a period of time, or a lifetime, and become a Nazarite. This isn’t just a go-through-the-motions kind of decision, this is all in.

I made a vow to the Lord that I wanted to be a Christian; a follower, believer and  a woman of God. I surrendered it all 10 years ago in that church pew and God took me in. I have had quite a journey with Him and I see the world through a completely different lens still today. My vow, back then was, “LORD, take my business, take my daughter, take my life. I can’t please people anymore, I don’t know what is right or what is wrong. I can’t keep trying to live my life on my own, take it – it’s yours!”

I meant it too. I realized that day that I was done pleasing people and I wanted to live to please the LORD. Oh how I have a short-term memory. I have trampled over that vow many, many times. Some intentionally and some completely unknowingly.

So, why does chapter 6 hit me so hard? Well, it is a reminder of what a vow looks like and how people (Israelite/Nazarites) would willingly, voluntarily subject themselves to not drinking wine or shaving their hair. Pure sacrifice. I can’t say that my life has been a sacrifice. Stuff gets in the way of my relationship with God – busy, selfish, prideful, earthly, human stuff.

Although, God knows I am not capable of being everything Jesus was when He came to earth and He also knows that I do love Him and desire to please Him. Life is so complicated sometimes and sometimes right and wrong aren’t black and white. So this one thing I know… He has a plan for my life and even if I make a mess of it, He will still be my LORD and Savior.

Sometimes when I’m feeling inadequate, these are the promises I rest upon. Perhaps if you feel the same way, we can take the example of the Nazarite vow and remember that God gave us a new day. Take a deep breath and appreciate oxygen, your beating heart, the sight of His creation and know that with this new day, His mercy abounds.

Jealous For You

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Today’s Devotion: Numbers 5

Some of my commentary resources question why this chapter singles out a woman committing adultery and not a man. Evidently man is dealt with in in future chapters and the penalty is severe, which is stoning. One of the lessons we can take away from chapter 5 is the reference that a man is jealous for his wife. Verse 14 says, “And if feelings of jealousy come over her husband and he suspects his wife and she is impure—or if he is jealous and suspects her even though she is not impure.”  To go so far as to say that if a man truly loves his wife, he will be jealous for her – just as God is a jealous God. I conclude that jealously is a Godly quality.

Exodus 34:14 says, “Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” What exactly is jealously? According to dictionary.com jealousy is a intolerant of unfaithfulness or rivalry. Hummmm…. Interesting.

In GotQuestions.org, it supports this to say, “If a husband sees another man flirting with his wife, he is right to be jealous, for only he has the right to be with his wife. This type of jealousy is not sinful. Rather, it is entirely appropriate. Being jealous for something that God declares to belong to you is good and appropriate. Jealousy is a sin when it is a desire for something that does not belong to you. Worship, praise, honor, and adoration belong to God alone, for only He is truly worthy of it.”

God desires after us and doesn’t want us to make idols and worship idols instead of giving Him the worship that belongs to Him alone. God is possessive of the worship and service that belong to Him. I’m glad God desires after you and me – He deserves our love.