Author Archives: Sarah Schneider

Wait Until Your Father Gets Home

Posted in Daily Devotions: Chapter by Chapter by

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

Posted in Daily Devotions: Chapter by Chapter by

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!

Posted in Daily Devotions: Chapter by Chapter by

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

Posted in Daily Devotions: Chapter by Chapter by

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

Posted in Daily Devotions: Chapter by Chapter by

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

Posted in Daily Devotions: Chapter by Chapter by

jealous

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.

 

 

Best Me I Can Be

Posted in Daily Devotions: Chapter by Chapter by

limited-edition

Today’s Devotional: Numbers 4

What do you think of when you see the words limited edition? I think that there are very few, it’s special, unique, set apart, not available for an indefinite period of time. Numbers chapter 4 makes me think that’s what Christians are!

  • Matthew 7:14 says, “But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (There are few)
  • 1 Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (We are special).
  • Psalm 139:13 says, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” (We are unique)
  • Psalm 73:26, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (We are only on earth for a short time.)

The three families of the tribe of Levi had service to perform about the tabernacle. This chapter tells us who is to serve, what was the order of their service, and how many there were in the tribe who served. As this chapter unveils, each Levite had his assignment, just so, every Christian has a gift and a job God wants him to do. I believe God will reward us for doing what He wants us to do. We are not to do what we choose to do, but we are to exercise the gifts that He has given us.

God created us with gifts, spiritual gifts. These are unique to us and were given to us for God’s service. When we use our gifts we perform naturally and effortlessly. This is why we call it our gift-zone, strengths, natural abilities and talents. Collectively, every believer together makes up the body of Christ and are able to be so much more together than we are apart.

I see how God arranged people according to their gifts and talents and to perform the work of the tabernacle seamlessly, efficiently and effectively for Him. As a Christian, created and called to serve God with our own unique gifts and abilities, let’s approach today and be the best that we can be in service to God.

Firstborn Blessings

Posted in Daily Devotions: Chapter by Chapter by

Image

Today’s Devotional: Numbers 3

In Numbers 3:13 it says, “For all the firstborn are mine. When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set apart for myself every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal. They are to be mine. I am the LORD.” I think today He still asks every family to give Him not only our possessions but to give Him the members of our household. Have you dedicated your own to the Lord? Have you turned them over to Him? It is a wonderful thing to be able to dedicate your own to Him. The firstborn belongs to the Lord.

I remember the day I dedicated my first daughter to the Lord. I didn’t know what I was doing actually. Ironically, I gave her to the Lord out of fear. I remember sitting in the pew at church, feeling very overwhelmed with my life at the time, and crying out to God, “LORD, please take my business, my daughter, and my life!” I didn’t know I did something magical that day. Not only for my daughter (who is blossoming into a beautiful child of God), but for me. That day, I meant it… I surrendered it all. That was 14 years ago and here I am today. Thankful for what God has done in my life and continues to do.

God loves children. He says himself in Matthew 18:3-5, “And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.” That day in that pew, I was like a little child. I gave my daughter and my life to him with a pure and innocent heart. It was the day my life changed and I will never forget it.

Numbers 3 takes me back to that moment and gives me a sense of acceptance and love. My hope for the readers of my blog that you have that same feeling – that God loves you and you have peace in knowing that you are also one of His own.

Get In YOUR Place

Posted in Daily Devotions: Chapter by Chapter by

soulrest_fb

Today’s Devotion: Numbers 2

Numbers 2:1 – 2 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron: “The Israelites are to camp around the tent of meeting some distance from it, each of them under their standard and holding the banners of their family.”

What is your standard and if you had a banner for your family, what would it say?

God has Moses gather all the families to surround the tabernacle in a specific order and each of them is allowed to represent themselves according to how they want to be represented. This is God’s army of people who He gathered. I’m so fascinated by the order and even more fascinated by God’s logic. God really has things all figured out.

It makes me realize that God has each of us in a specific place in the world, at a specific time and for a specific purpose. We need to be who were are. Have you given up on trying to be what everyone else wants you to be? I became a Christian about 10 years ago and I learned that my life wasn’t created to be molded into what the world wanted me to be, I was created for a specific purpose that God created me to be.

That was the day I stopped taking anti-depressants. I didn’t need them anymore. When I was working hard to fit in and be what I thought the world wanted me to be, I was burdened so heavily that it was actually doing me harm. Once I came to accept who I was, in Christ, and focus on doing what God created me to be and do, I was set free from that bondage of pain, suffering, depression, anxiety and stress.

Not sure how all of that came out of my reading of Numbers chapter 2, but I was prompted to write it. Perhaps to encourage you today? For whatever reason God laid that on my heart, I hope you can be encouraged that God is with us and it’s such a beautiful picture to know we are exactly where he wants us and it is our turn to create our standard and hold our banner that best represents who we are.