Tag Archives: Bible Study

The Great Cover Up

Posted in Daily Devotions: Chapter by Chapter by

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Today’s Devotion: Leviticus 16

Sounds like some kind of scandal doesn’t it? Nah, just a catchy title, but with great significance none-the-less. Today we have a break through. The past few days have been a bit ‘odd’ – to say the least. Today is a whole different story and one that gives me pep in my step. It’s like another celebration – a reminder of God’s goodness.

The Day of Atonement pointed to Christ and His redemption as did no other sacrifice, ceremony, or ordinance of the Old Testament. It reveals Christ, as our Great High Priest, going into the Holy of Holies for us. The word for “atonement” is the Hebrew kaphar, which means “to cover.” God did not take away sins in the Old Testament; He covered them until Christ came and removed them.

Remember the game of peekaboo? The game where you magically “disappear” behind your hands and as soon as your hands move the baby giggles. I love that! I’m smiling as I type recalling how easily babies can be tricked and that unforgettable baby laugh. I am using this childish game to bring home a very important point: When God says he covers them up… He covers them up. No game playing with God – this is the real deal.

In chapter 16, God gives the instructions to make sure Aaron (the priest) follow the proper protocol. In doing so and the sins of the Israelites are covered for an entire year. We are so blessed to have Christ, who covered our sin yesterday, today, and forever. We are covered!

Yet my heart is heavy for those who “think” that they are in, when, in fact, life has been like the devil’s big game of peekaboo. They go to church, hear the gospel and they go through the religious rituals and motions, but wind up going back into the world living like there is nothing significant about it. Please pray with me today for five people who don’t have a fully surrendered life, who need the Lord, and can see that the world is not a place that they will find salvation. Unfortunately, that stuff is not a game.

New Beginnings and a Treasure Hunt

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

Treasure

Today’s Devotional: Leviticus 1

Welcome! I have been on this chapter-a-day journey through the bible since early July 2013. I created this blog and Facebook page the day after I met Elina and Nikki, whom I didn’t know very well at the time. We immediately bonded as sisters in Christ. We were practically strangers, but they shared biblical wisdom to help me out of a pit I recently climbed into, it was if God put them in my life at that perfect time and the very next morning I prayed to thank God for my Godly Girlfriends and that was the day Godly Girlfriends began.

So it was like I had this new baby, but didn’t know what to do with it. I knew one thing for sure, I wasn’t plugged into God’s Word, a bible study, or any discipline that would help me grow and deepen my relationship with Christ. So I thought if I wasn’t, perhaps others would benefit from an online day-to-day reading plan – and here we are.

Friendships are developed, strengthened, and maintained through commonalities and shared experiences. I would say wherever you are in live or physically reside on the planet, if you are a follower of Christ we have commonality. This blog makes our relationship a bit one sided on my part because I’m sharing my stories, revealing my heart and expressing my insights, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Communicate with a comment on this blog or a post on our Facebook page or if you run into great quotes, pictures, stories, so please pass them along.

All that to say, “Welcome to Leviticus 1!” It’s a fresh start, a new beginning and an opportunity for you to continue your walk with the Lord alongside of me; not only getting to know me better, but, more importantly, for you to deepen your relationship with Christ. Like anything, you’ll get out of it what you put into it. I see God at work in my heart and in my life like I have never seen Him before.

In Leviticus 1 is a new day for God too. He has moved off of Mount Sinai and into the Tabernacle and what a new beginning this is for the Iraelites. Leviticus is the book of worship. Sacrifice, ceremony, ritual, liturgy, instructions, washings, convocations, holy days, observances, conditions, and warnings crowd this book. All these physical exercises were given to teach spiritual truths.

I have heard that the book of Leviticus is not the best reading, but you know what? It’s in God’s Word for a very special reason. If you like a good treasure hunt, let’s find the treasures in Leviticus together.

This Is A Test – Love, God

Posted in Reflections From My Heart by

test

Psalm 119:74-76

New International Version (NIV)

74 May those who fear you rejoice when they see me,
    for I have put my hope in your word.
75 I know, Lord, that your laws are righteous,
    and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
76 May your unfailing love be my comfort,
    according to your promise to your servant

Through our Godly Girlfriends Facebook Page, we are reading a chapter a day through the bible. I like this community because it has given me a daily discipline to read my bible and, in all honesty, a track to run on. If you’re like me, I am better off when given some direction with bible study because without it I wander a bit aimlessly through the bible and most often hang out in hope-filled pages of the New Testament. Not that that is a bad thing, but I know – and have known that – the WHOLE bible has application and to limit myself to the New Testament, I’m missing out.

Well let me tell you, I have been missing out BIG TIME! Here we are on Genesis chapter 22 and what God is revealing is far more than I ever bargained for. This past week we have focused on Abraham and I have been very disappointed with Abraham to say the least. Here is a man, chosen of God, and he keeps messing things up. All along I keep thinking, “Dude, you have GOD talking to you!” It’s not like he has to read and study scripture, take a bible study, cross reference the origin of Greek words, dissect various versions and commentaries. He is being talked to by God himself (or angels of the Lord).

Despite all of that, Abraham’s greatest flaw is his disbelief. With all humility, I have concluded that it is mine too (See Dangerous Assumption), but then in Genesis 22, Abraham goes beyond what I would EVER be capable of doing.  This is where Abraham takes his one and only son, Isaac, to offer as a sacrifice. Why does he do it? God tells him too. (GULP!)

Completely symbolic of what God did on the cross with his one and only son, Jesus, but if God tested me – like he tested Abraham – I would surely fail here. Then again, God does test us all the time. The purpose is to prove that our faith is real. Not that God needs to prove it to Himself since He knows all things; rather, He is proving to us that our faith is real, that we are truly His children, and that no trial or test will overcome that faith.

So I share all of this to say that God tests us because he loves us. He sacrificed his OWN son for us. In terms of Abraham’s disbelief, God tested him and he succeeded. Perhaps He’s testing you right now? Tests are not fun, but they do teach. I guess the best way – the only way – is to have faith.