Children | Road Signs to Him

How long will we wander, before returning to Him?

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Who Else Could Use a SYSTEM RESET??? {Video}

First of all–YES, I’m in my PJ’s in this video. We’re all friends here…it’s not like I was out at the grocery store

Second–My apologies for being MIA for the past week. Sinus Infections don’t make for good video making. “Welcome to today’s {SNORT} edition of the 1000 {SNORT} Days Younger {COUGH} mission…” You get the picture, and the picture isn’t pretty!!!

Third–Don’t know that there is a third. Enjoy the video and keep me posted on how YOU are feeling!!!

Make it a great day,

Mari!yn

Category:

1000 Days Younger Mission, Children, Health & Well Being, Service, Video Posts

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135) Let God out of the box you’re keeping Him in

But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went; his head was covered and he was barefoot. (2 Samuel 15:30)

Day 135 reading: 2 Samuel, chapters 13-15

Between today’s scripture reading and another book I am reading by Mark Batterson, “The Circle Maker,” I am all about God’s testing and our response of ultimate faith in our very BIG God! Here, David was trusting the Lord for direction through uncertainty, just as you and I have to do every day, too.

It is too easy to put God into this neat little box that fits just exactly where we think He should be. We bring Him out when we think we need to, but leave Him boxed on our shelves, or in our purse, or our pocket when we’ve got everything under control. Some days we forget how powerful He is, yet how simple our prayers need to be to be heard an answered.

I don’t know how much this book corresponds with today’s scripture reading, but with recent events in the news of child abductions and recovery, and this biblical history of Tamar’s rape by her own half-brother, I believe we all need to step up and surround ourselves in a prayerful wall. Trusting God as we circle around our children, our marriages, and career paths, our parents and in-laws, our friends, and all those we love. When we circle around them in deep devotion to God and in faith that He will keep His promises, we will see His love and grace unfolding in front of us, our faith will be further strengthened, and our walk with Him more steady with each step.

These are the road signs we are looking for, but we can’t see them when we don’t look for Him through opened eyes. I believe David had his eyes closed for a moment when all of these things were going on in his kingdom. Right under his own nose, his own son Amnon used David as a puppet in his desire for Tamar. And David’s own brother acted as an accomplice.

I’m here to give every person I love to the Lord for His ultimate protection, and trust that He is much more powerful than my human mind can fathom.

Make it a great day,
Marilyn

Tomorrow’s scripture reading: Psalms, chapters 3-4, 12-13, 28 & 55

Category:

2 Samuel, Bible in a Year-Chronological Study, Children, Faith, Prayer, Seeing God, Trust

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133) David was Only Human

Day 133 reading: 2 Samuel, chapters 11-12

David was only human. I have to remind myself of this fact now and then while reading through the scriptures. So many of the great biblical heroes we read about still have very human weaknesses, just like you and I have them. Just when I find myself shaking my head in frustration with David, I get the gentle reminder that I have made my own share of decisions that I purposefully didn’t consult God in. Granted, those decisions don’t ever go well, yet we still forget from time to time that He is God and we are not. There’s only been one perfect human and we aren’t Him, either. So where does that leave us?

“One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace.” (11:2, NIV) This is the first time I’ve caught that this was nighttime, and that David had to get up from bed in the night to walk around on his palace roof. Every other time I have read the story or heard it told in Sunday School or sermons, I have pictured him taking a daily afternoon or even morning stroll, but this “got up from bed and walked,” detail adds something to my understanding.

The story of David on his rooftop in the night, spying on the city he ruled reminds me of a Zig Ziglar quote that says, in essence, that “Hypocrites are those who complain about the filth on their own VCRs.” I picture David’s rooftop stroll kind of like the person who sneaks out of bed at night to dig in the cookies, or look at unsavory things on the internet. He was looking all around his city, and from the roof of his palace, David could see everything. Nothing was censored and just like the person online looking at porn doesn’t accidentally click on the stuff, and just like no one forces us to eat too much or get up in the night for fatty snacks, David got exactly what he was looking for. He found a beautiful woman, bathing, thinking she was safe from view.

After all the blessings the Lord had bestowed on David, and all that He gives us each and every day, we all make these human errors in judgement. And when we make these errors, as when David did, it displeased the Lord. (11:27)

Then, the Lord sent a messenger from God to remind David that He sees and knows all. The Lord sent Nathan to David. (12:1, NIV) If I think back on times when I know I have made human errors that have displeased the Lord, I can also remember people of reminders that I know the Lord has sent to me, reminders of my errors in judgement, so that I could not just brush these mistakes under the rug and pretend they never happened. “Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what was evil in His eyes?” Nathan asked of David. (12:9, NIV) Just as He still does for us, the Lord reminded David of this sin. He sent Nathan, He allowed a baby to be conceived by David and Bathsheba, and then He took that baby away. The Lord sent reminders and David got the message and the punishment.

After all of the punishment David endured, he persevered through his ultimate faith in God, and he was redeemed in being blessed by his next son to Bathsheba, Solomon, whom we will certainly be studying soon. But let’s always allow ourselves to remember that even the mightiest fall and we must always guard our hearts and our eyes from things the Lord doesn’t want us to see.

Make it a great day,
Marilyn

Day 134 reading: Psalms, chapters 32, 51, 86, and 122

Dear Lord, thank you for all of the blessings we already enjoy and recognize to be all from you. Lord, speak to us through your living Word, that we may learn from the mistakes and trappings of those humans who have gone before us so that we can exercise more control and keep you at the forefront of everything, especially when sin and temptation seeks after us. Lord, protect and guide us. It is in your name we pray. Amen.

Category:

2 Samuel, Bible in a Year-Chronological Study, Children, Faith, Forgiveness, Perseverance, Prayer, Seeing God, Trust

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126) Living a Life of Great Thanksgiving

Day 126 reading: Psalms, chapters 89, 96, 100, 101, 105, & 132

Friends, is it all right to admit that sometimes it’s a little difficult to focus, even on the daily, living, breathing Word of God? This evening I am distracted by sore throats and crying and up and down and bathroom breaks and excuse after excuse…and that’s just from one of our five children… Focus, Marilyn….think happy, calm thoughts…

The heavens praise your wonders, O Lord, your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones.

For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord?

Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings?

In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared; he is more awesome than all who surround him. (89:5-7, NIV)

I am so grateful to serve a loving, caring, just God. He is judge and jury, but He is fair, whether we like to accept it in our own human boundaries, or not. Righteous and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you. (89:14, NIV) I love this, though.

A little later in the reading, we are told that even when we mess up, even when we forsake His laws, even when we violate His decrees, even when we fail to keep His commandments, but I will not take my love from him (US!), nor will I ever betray my faithfulness. I will not violate my covenant or alter what my lips have uttered. (89:33-34, NIV) He remembers his covenant forever, the word he commanded, for a thousand generations. (105, 8, NIV)

Friends, it is refreshing to me that my God loves me as a father. He truly loves me like I love my own children. No matter how many times they mess up (or get out of bed long past bed time), I will punish but I will not remove my love from them and He will not ever stop loving you and I.

Isn’t it amazing how the scriptures open themselves up to us at exactly the time we need them most. My own heart is gushing with love after reading that, even sitting and stewing in my parenting frustrations (and still hearing the occasional scamper of tiny feet through the house).

He will judge the people with equity. (96:10, NASB)

I know I have expressed my complete dislike of televisions here before, but I have to get on that bandwagon–briefly–here again.

When I hear or read the word “idol” I don’t think of the music reality TV show, or golden calves, or money, or mansions on the hill; I think of the television first and foremost. It just may be the most distracting thing in my life and certainly the distraction that never adds but only takes. Sure, the occasional family movie is fun sitting around the living room, but that rarely happens at our house. I have a few television shows that I watch, but for the most part I have little use for the TV, and the shows I watch aren’t of any great importance to my quality of life, either. But in our house there are televisions in every room except the bathrooms and at least two are on at all waking hours. It drives me absolutely bonkers! It doesn’t bother my husband; he’s the one who turns them all on. And it’s not the TV’s fault or my husband’s fault, even, that I have such a grudge against television.

My BIG issue is that if it’s on and I’m in the room, I can’t keep from staring at it. I will stop dead in my tracks and stare at whatever is flashing up on the screen. Commercials. Sci Fi. News. Weather. Sports. I really don’t care, it’s not the show itself, it’s the IDOL. It angers me that I can’t ignore the television like my husband does. For him, it’s background noise (and I won’t go into the theories I have about people who can’t just be in silence…ever). For me, it’s like a magnet drawing my eyes in. So, I do my best to stay away from rooms where there is a television on, lest I become a human statue.

For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods.

For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the Lord made the heavens.

Splendor and majesty are before Him, strength and beauty are in His sanctuary. (96:4-6, NASB)

As idiotic as my TV idol is, this is the effect idols have on us and it is up to you and I to keep ourselves from the temptation.

I will walk in my house with blameless heart; I will set before my eyes no vile thing. (101:2-3, NIV)

I do my best to stay out of rooms if there is a television on. What do we do to combat other idols in our lives? How do we quench the ever-growing thirst for more and more…money, possessions, idols?

Worship the Lord in holy attire; Tremble before Him, all the earth. (96:9, NASB)

P.S. “holy attire” doesn’t give you permission to go out on an over-the-top shopping spree!

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise; be thankful unto him, and bless his name. (100:4, KJV)

Praise Him! Be thankful and–dare I say–content with all that He has already blessed you and I with. Like a parent, He does not have to give us the things we want, He does so out of His love for us when our desires and His path merge. Just like those parents among us do for our children, there is method to His seeming madness, too. There is justice in His punishment. There is righteousness to be found in our obedience.

God is the ultimate artist; His work is showcased every day in the big and small things.

Every morning I will put to silence all the wicked in the land. (101:8, NIV)

Isn’t that beautiful? What a wonderful verse and thought: not only should we start our morning with prayer and thanksgiving, but every morning we should put to silence all the wicked in the land.

Silence the gossip and terror and bad reports in our own heads and look at each day as a completely new day and a completely fresh start.

Ahhhh. I’m feeling more relaxed and more thankful already (even though there are STILL footsteps around the house…)!

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

Day 127 reading: 2 Samuel, chapter 7; 1 Chronicles, chapter 17

Category:

Bible in a Year-Chronological Study, Blessings, Children, Faith, Forgiveness, Praise, Psalms, Seeing God

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125) Let God Arise!

For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. (Psalms 1:6, KJV)

Day 125 reading: Psalms, chapters 1-2, 15, 22-24, 47, and 68

Lately, I have been thinking of my guardian angels quite a bit. Today’s reading doesn’t cover them, but it still brings my thoughts to light.

He said to me, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.” (2:7, NIV)

My personal walk has been quite unscathed. I look around me and see pain and destruction, and I thank the Lord for the troops of guardian angels that must be guarding my every step, keeping my family and I safe, preventing harm and stopping me from walking in the path of despair. That thought comforted me as I went to sleep last night, and I hope similar thoughts comfort you in the dark of night and the light of day as they do me.

Friends, we serve the Lord, the God of all, our Father, who loves us each enough to call us Son or Daughter, His Children. We walk in His light and he directs our path, because He loves us.

Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?

He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous,

Who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue,

Who does high neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman,

Who despiese a vile man but honors those who fear the Lord,

Who keeps his oath even when it hurts,

Who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.

He who does these things will never be shaken. (15:1-5, NIV)

I find that the more time I spend in earnest prayer, the easier my path becomes, or maybe the more clearly I see the way. It’s not that there are never human obstacle and challenges, but they don’t ruffle my feathers, so to speak, when I pray without ceasing.

Isn’t today’s reading a beautiful testimony to the Spirit of the Lord, who dwells within each of us? The Lord lived with and in King David. He gave David words to speak and write and sing. Chapter 22′s foretelling of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion is nothing less than the inspired word of God, spoken through David. David was in constant prayer and communion with the Lord. He can work through each of us just as powerfully as He worked through David then, but we must open our hearts to Him and listen when He speaks.

I fear no evil, for You are with me. (23:4, NASB)

This is the generation of those who seek Him. (24:6, NASB)

O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. (47:1, KJV)

In all the gloom and doom that twirls constantly around us, isn’t it refreshing to open up the Psalms and read these words which are so uplifting and full of images of a such a gracious heavenly Father.

God is [already] beginning to arise, and His enemies to scatter. (68:1, Amplified) God places the solitary in families and gives the desolate a home in which to dwell; He leads the prisoners out to prosperity; but the rebellious dwell in a parched land. (68:6, Amplified)

That is so powerful! God places those who call on him where they will more completely feel His love. He surrounds the lonely with loving people; He frees us from the chains of brokenness. When we feel alone, we must remember this verse and be filled.

Friends, I pray for you every day and want your every moment to be filled to the brim with His Spirit, in ways that you know with every breath and every step.

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

Day 126 reading: Psalms, chapters 89, 96, 100, 101, 105, & 132

Dear Lord, Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help. (22:11, NIV)

Category:

Bible in a Year-Chronological Study, Blessings, Children, Eternity, Faith, Hope, Perseverance, Praise, Prayer, Psalms, Seeing God, Trust

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117) Seeing the Doors the Lord Opens and Closes

Day 117 reading: 1 Chronicles, chapter 6

Another list of lineage graces our reading today, but as tedious as these sorts of listing readings are for me to sift through, they also always hit home for me in some unexpected way.

Today, as I read of these clans and tribes and families, I think of all the opening and closing of doors the Lord is doing within my own large family. So many changes, all wonderful, all good, and mostly completely unplanned. My parents, husband, children and I are getting good practice at walking in faith and I am so thankful for God’s grace that allows us to do so.

Friends, I hope the living Word of God speaks to you every day, even during the seemingly mundane details of those like today’s passage. He included all for a specific reason and sometimes it’s just up to us to rely on Him to show us each individually why He chose that particular family or this piece of history to share.

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

Day 118 reading: Psalms, chapters 81, 88, 92-93

Category:

1 Chronicles, Bible in a Year-Chronological Study, Children, Faith

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113) Family Lines & Biblical Times

Today’s scripture passage: 1 Chronicles, chapters 1-2

…and more begats and chiefs and lists…

And this is where our Living Word becomes a little more difficult for me to relate. The fact of the matter is that in today’s culture, roots and lineage and family lines and history are no longer at the forefront. Today, it seems, “family” is more defined by friends and the closest of relatives and relationships rather than the generations that shared our bloodline. Personally, I don’t think I can name the history of my family in full beyond the preceding two generations. I have a hard enough time keeping up with my own parents, husband, and five children from day to day. I am ashamed of this fact as I read through my Bible in a Year–or 365 days, whichever the case may be–because the Lord obviously holds our lineage more highly than many of us do in present times. How do we keep the bloodline and the stories and the history of “our people” strong even through all of the dilutions of divorce and preoccupation? How do I ensure that my children know at least as much about my parents and grandparents as I know, while encouraging them to also learn what they can beyond what I can teach them?

My friends, as much as the family listings are difficult for me to read, this fact of my lack of knowledge is even more difficult. Is there anyone else who feels the same or similar? And, are there any others who have found that balance between the past and present? I love to hear from all!

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

Day 114 reading: Psalms, chapters 43-45, 49, 84-85, 87

Category:

1 Chronicles, Bible in a Year-Chronological Study, Children

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109) Satan Wants You to FEEL alone!

The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God. (Psalms 18:20-21, NASB)

Day 109 reading: 1 Samuel, chapters 28-31 & Psalms, chapter 18

When Saul was distressed, he called on the Lord and got nothing. Maybe a cricket hummed in the distance. But when David called, in his humble way, the Lord answered and led.

When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart. He inquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets. (1 Samuel 28:5-6, NIV)

What a difference that is from David’s calling upon the Lord:

In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried to my God for help; He heard my voice out of His temple, and my cry for help before Him came into His ears. (Psalms 18:6, NASB)

When we walk upright in the Lord and hold Him close in our hearts, He knows and He responds to us, as well. There are times when it is easier to act holy than actually have a heart for the holiness of our Lord, but we must continually call upon Him to keep our hearts right and our eyes looking to Him for our guidance. It is when we feel the most alone that we are the most likely to look to other sources for our fulfillment.

He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my stay. (Psalms 18:17-18, NASB)

Satan wants us to feel alone, to be on the outskirts, to be easy to reach; the Lord wants us to be together, living with other Christians and being held up in our times of need, never feeling alone or abandoned by Him or our brothers and sisters in Him.

When David and his men returned home to find their wives and children abducted and all the town destroyed, they wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep…But David found strength in the Lord his God. (1 Samuel 30:4 & 6, NIV)

Like Job and so many great men of our biblical history before him, David found strength in the Lord, even in his darkest hour, even when all seemed lost to the human eye. Oh, my friends, we have so much to glean from this Living Word.

Dear friends, my prayer is that each of us reading along on this journey or stumbling over this posting in a seemingly random happenstance, allow our Bibles to open up to us each in a whole new way, with fresh eyes and a completely fresh understanding. Every day that I read, I want to read and catch something I’ve never noticed before or understand some point or passage deeper than any previous time. Through Him, we can do just that! Through prayer and communion and faithfulness, He will continue to reveal so much “newness” to us through these pages and this study that at the end of our 365 day journey, we will have a completely new and exciting view of the inspired Word of God and my prayer is that each of us will be better equipped to go out into the world and share the Word with others. The Lord doesn’t want even one sheep to go astray, and each day He is making shepherds of each of us.

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

Tomorrow’s scripture reading: Psalms, chapters 121, 123-125, & 128-130

Category:

1 Samuel, Bible in a Year-Chronological Study, Blessings, Children, Faith, Gifts & Talents, Healing, Prayer, Psalms, Trust

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98) Seeing Our Own Stories Within the Word

Today, we begin the first book of the kings, 1 Samuel, chapters 1-3

Morgan, age 1

When I read the story of Samuel as a young boy, I picture in my mind’s eye my own son, Morgan. He has always had such a caring nature and had a depth about him. I know you parents out there can relate to seeing the best qualities and brightest future in your own children. My husband and I have five incredible children, but Morgan is my Samuel.

“I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” (1:27-28, NIV)

Then Hannah prayed and said,

Morgan, age 10

“My heart exults in the Lord;

My horn is exalted in the Lord,

My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies,

Because I rejoice in Your salvation.

There is no one holy like the Lord,

Indeed, there is no one besides You,

Nor is there any rock like our God.

Boast no more so very proudly,

Do not let arrogance come out of your mouth;

For the Lord is a God of knowledge,

And with Him actions are weighed.

The bows of the mighty are shattered,

But the feeble gird on strength.

Those who were full hire themselves out for bread,

But those who were hungry cease to hunger.

Even the barren gives birth to seven,

But she who has many children languishes.

The Lord kill s and makes alive;

He brings down to Sheol and raises up.

The Lord makes poor and rich;

He brings low, He also exalts.

He raises the poor from the dust,

He lifts the needy from the ash heap

To make them sit with nobles,

And inherit a seat of honor;

For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s,

And He set the world on them.

He keeps the feet of His godly ones,

But the wicked ones are silenced in darkness;

For not by might shall a man prevail.

Those who contend with the Lord will be shattered;

Against them He will thunder in the heavens,

The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;

And He will give strength to His king,

And will exalt the horn of His anointed.”

(2:1-10, NASB)

Morgan, age 14

The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.

One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called Samuel. (3:1-4, NIV)

Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

And the Lord said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle.” (3:11, NIV)

My friends, not only do I admire the faith of Hannah, Samuel’s mother, in our history, but I admire Samuel’s own faithfulness. He was born to do great things for the Lord. Each of us were. We serve an incredibly big God, one who is able to do all things Himself, but chooses to do them through His people. My prayer for each of us is to give Him full access to every aspect of our little lives, so that through us all, He can make a big difference. He is able!

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

Day 99 reading: 1 Samuel, chapters 4-8

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1 Samuel, Bible in a Year-Chronological Study, Blessings, Children, Faith, Seeing God

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94) Ohhhh, Samson!

I have to share yet another funny story on our dear youngest daughter. This is just for the “kids say the darndest things” category, but it actually does apply to today’s scripture reading. Charlotte has a bible of her own and she loves to read it daily. When she saw the picture of Samson in her bible, she said it was her Daddy. Of course, all kids think their dads are the strongest men on the planet, but this was especially cute to me because the running joke in our family is that my husband, Steve, can lift anything, so I guess Charlotte was pretty clever in seeing a drawing of Samson and seeing her Dad in the muscle!

Day 94 reading: Judges, chapters 13-15

Can you imagine what it would be like to be visited by an angel of the Lord, or to be one of the chosen few to have an encounter directly with the Lord? It happens so much throughout the Bible that I have to actually remind myself that the time-span of the chosen pieces of our heritage were inspired to share for a particular reason, but not to give the impression that angelic encounters were necessarily daily activities in biblical times.

There do seem to be an inordinate number of angelic appearances to women which are regarding the bearing, upbringing, and naming of chosen children of the Lord. We have already studied a few, and are sure to study more as we continue our chronological scripture reading. It’s interesting to me, as a mother, that the Lord oftentimes worked through the matriarch of the family to ensure the proper steps to be taken for the preparation of a mighty leader or warrior of the Lord. I particularly enjoy that Samson’s father prays for the angel to appear a second time so that he and Samson’s mother can be instructed on how to raise the child, and I believe he gets a little different answer than the one he was fishing for when the angel replies, “Your wife must do all that I have told her.” (13:13, NIV)

And again in Samson’s life, we see the filling Presence of the Lord that we discussed in part on Day 93.

The woman gave birth to a boy and named him Samson. He grew and the Lord blessed him, and the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him while he was in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol. (13:24, NIV)

The Lord is stirring is us every day, also. But truly, friends, it is only when we allow Him to be ruler of our lives that we are the most open to identifying His stirring Presence as the leading Spirit that it is. Otherwise, either in our misunderstanding or outright disobedience, we may mistake or ignore the Lord’s calling on our lives. We cannot allow that. After all, “The devil is in the distractions.” When we ignore the stirring call of the Lord in our lives, we are really just distracting ourselves with other junk in an attempt to fill the gaps that only He can fill.

And the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and he tore the lion as he would have torn a kid, and he had nothing in his hand.” (14:6, Amplified)

And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon and slew thirty men of them and took their apparel [as spoil], and gave the changes of garments to those who explained the riddle. (14:19, Amplified)

And when he came to Lehi, the philistines scame shouting to meet him. And the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon [Samson], and the ropes on his arms became as flax that had caught fire, and his bonds melted off his hands. (15:14, Amplified)

And God split open the hollow place that was at Lehi, and water came out of it. And when he drank it, his spirit returned and he revived. (15:19, Amplified)

God is able, my friends! He is able to send us into battle armed with seemingly nothing to our human eyes, but with the armor of God, all things are possible.

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

Day 95 reading: Judges, chapters 16-18

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Bible in a Year-Chronological Study, Blessings, Children, Health & Well Being, Judges, Perseverance, Seeing God, Service, Trust

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93) Three things…

Wow, what a fascinating few days I’ve had. I’m tempted to refer to them as stressful but instead am considering them blessed. I hope each of you have also had blessed days.

Day 93 reading: Judges, chapters 10-12

Three things strike me in today’s reading above all else: 1) God’s filling Presence in our lives, 2) That there are times when our suffering is even difficult for our Lord to stand watching, and 3) That obedience to Him takes a lot of guts.

I’d like to break these three items down.

FIRST: God’s filling Presence in our lives. Several times throughout our reading up to this point have pointed to His Presence in our lives, every day, every moment, through every situation. He is there. He is here. But do you know those times when you can literally feel the Presence of the Lord in you? When His Presence comes over me, it’s almost overwhelming, almost more than my human body can handle. It’s wonderful and terrifying at the same time. But scripture tells us that the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah, so Jephthah was led by the Presence of the Lord in obedience (11:29, NASB). Sometimes the Spirit makes Itself known to us because of our obedience, but sometimes it is in our disobedience that the Spirit seems to have no other option but to fill us with His Presence to get us moving.

SECOND: There are times when our human suffering is even too much for God to sit back and watch. So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the Lord; and He could bear the misery of Israel no longer (10:16, NASB). Just as lessons taught are sometimes difficult for parents to watch children struggle through, the Lord feels the same in watching our lives unfold. When the going gets tough, it effects Him, as well. I believe the key is that when the tough times come upon His children, and we are under more strain and heartache than we think we can bear, it is up to us to make it known to Him that we cannot do it alone, we cannot conquer anything without His help. The Israelites put away the foreign gods first, then the Lord helped them back out of the pit they had dug for themselves.

THIRD: Obedience to Him takes a lot of guts. I vaguely remember studying the story of Jephthah and his daughter, his only child, previously, but as I have said before, I am making every effort to read through the Bible in a Year with a completely fresh set of eyes and perspective. This piece of our history struck me so hard this time today. I pictured one of my daughters singing and dancing with the tambourines, in celebration for Jephthah’s successes and return home from battle. I pictured the look on her face and the pain in his heart, knowing what had to happen next. And, honestly, like the die-hard romantic that I truly am, I so hoped for a happy ending. I wanted this story to be like Jacob and Isaac. I wanted the Lord to see Jephthah’s obedience and allow her to live. But, she was obedient to the Lord as well Jephthah. “My father,” she replied, “you have given your word to the Lord. Do to me just as you promised, now that the Lord has avenged you of your enemies, the Ammonites.” (11:36, NIV)

Following this life is full of joy and equally full of struggles, but these are struggles we are equipped to win through Him and in His holy name!

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

Day 94 reading: Judges, chapters 13-15

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Bible in a Year-Chronological Study, Blessings, Children, Faith, Judges, Perseverance, Rules worth LIVING by, Trust

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92) Weary Yet Pursuing His Kingdom!

Day 92 reading: Judges, chapters 8-9

We are going to jump right back in to Gideon’s story today.

Then the men of Ephraim said to him, “What is this thing you have done to us, not calling us when you went to fight against Midian?” And they contended with him vigorously. But he said to them, “What have I done now in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer? God has given the leaders of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb into your hands; and what was I able to do in comparison with you?” Then their anger toward him subsided when he said that. (8:1-3, NASB)

Gideon’s army still has all 300 men, with 200 (2 companies or 100 men each) of them now insulted because the Lord only used 100 of them (1 company) to defeat their enemies. “What is this thing you have done to us, not calling us when you went to fight against Midian?” (Judges 8:1) We can be useful in subduing anger with a soft tone, just as Gideon softened his tone and subdued 200 angry warriors, when he spoke to them saying, “What have I done now in comparison with you?” How much easier would it have been for Gideon to tell those excluded to get off their high horses?

Then Gideon and the 300 men who were with him came to the Jordan and crossed over, weary yet pursuing. He said to the men of Succoth, “Please give loaves of bread to the people who are following me, for they are weary, and I am pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.” The leaders of Succoth said, “Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hands, that we should give bread to your army?” Gideon said, “All right, when the Lord has given Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, then I will thrash your bodies with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.” He went up from there to Penuel and spoke similarly to them; and the men of Penuel answered him just as the men of Succoth had answered. (8:4-8, NASB)

What makes Gideon’s controlled mouth even more wonderful is that he and his men are “Weary yet pursuing.” (v 4) It is so much more difficult to act peacably and control our tongues when we are tired and hungry and still working toward a goal.

This week, we are watching Gideon’s speedy rise from the milk of the Word to a diet rich in the meat of the Word. At first, he was hesitant to follow, hesitant to obey, even with God’s direct orders; but now he speaks and acts with such faith that it is a blessing for us to sit back and study today. So often we get weary and our pursuit is halted. Gideon pressed on, filled with the faith based on all he had experienced and seen, and based on the three tests he had asked of the Lord.

So he spoke also to the men of Penuel, saying, “When I return safely, I will tear down this tower.”

Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their armies with them, about 15,000 men, all who were left of the entire army of the sons of the east; for the fallen were 120,000 swordsmen. Gideon went up by the way of those who lived in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and attacked the camp when the camp was unsuspecting. When Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued them and captured the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and routed the whole army.

Then Gideon the son of Joash returned from the battle by the ascent of Heres. And he captured a youth from Succoth and questioned him. Then the youth wrote down for him the princes of Succoth and its elders, seventy-seven men. (8:9-14, NASB)

Though the men were weary, they pressed on in pursuit of the Midian kings, Zebah and Zalmunna (we will herein refer to them as “Z&Z”). And, just when we forget how few men the Lord used to defeat their armies already, we are told the uncomprehendable number of men originally in the enemy camp and our eyes are opened to His Power in a whole new way.

Z&Z had already lost 120,000 men

to Gideon’s army of 100-300 (depending on the battle)!

Z&Z only had 15,000 men left!

Girls, God is so good! He is faithful and true to His word! He is who He says He is and He will do all that He says He will do! Amen!

He came to the men of Succoth and said, “Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, concerning whom you taunted me, saying, ‘Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hand, that we should give bread to your men who are weary?’” He took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and he disciplined the men of Succoth with them. He tore down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city.

Then he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men were they whom you killed at Tabor?” And they said, “They were like you, each one resembling the son of a king.” He said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the Lord lives, if only you had let them live, I would not kill you.” So he said to Jether his firstborn, “Rise, kill them.” But the youth did not draw his sword, for he was afraid, because he was still a youth. (8:15-20, NASB)

We have seen over a hundred thousand warrior men defeated at the hand of Gideon’s tiny but effective army, we have seen Z&Z fall, and now we see even the men Gideon led trying to give him the credit: Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, both you and your son, also your son’s son, for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian.” But Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the Lord shall rule over you.” (v 22-23, NASB)

In the end of this history of Gideon, the people of God never learned, still trying to raise up one man instead of giving God the credit, and still desiring some-thing to worship in place of some Presence. But thanks to Gideon’s faithfulness in being used, Israel was at peace the remainder of Gideon’s life on earth. “And Gideon the son of Joash died at a ripe old age and was buried in the tomb of his father Joash, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.” (v 32)

Your gifts may not be as a mighty warrior, but you are just as useful to His kingdom!

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

Day 93 reading: Judges, chapters 10-12

Category:

Bible in a Year-Chronological Study, Children, Faith, Judges, Perseverance, Trust

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Calling All “Plugged In” Kiddos!

Completely unrelated to any other sort of Road Signs to Him Ministries article before, I wanted to send a holla out to all of you other mothers (or dads…or grandparents…or aunts…uncles…well, you get it) of small children. As with everything else I write about, this will require a bit of back story…

A few months ago, while reading a bedtime story to Charlotte (5 yrs old), I thought of how cool it would be to video record me reading her stories, so that nights when she wanted to play her iPod at bedtime, or nights when I am not available, she could still enjoy bedtime stories. Soooo, I created her own little YouTube account, which is totally private. On it, I uploaded story reading, as well as other fun family videos so that she would always have some fun stuff to watch without (and this is key since her iPod is just the 8GB variety) taking up her precious memory space! YouTube to the rescue!!!

After a little time, this got me thinking…there are tons of kids toting iPods, iPads, and other gadgets and gizmos these days, and they might enjoy some story time, too. I didn’t want to publicize Charlotte’s account, so I formed another: KiddoStoryTime on YouTube.

What you’ll find on KiddoStoryTime (YouTube account):

Nothing fancy! It’s just the pages of the book, while myself or one of my older children read the story. There are no faces, no acting out, just reading…just like my kids really get when I read them books. This is meant to be a calming, winding down for bed time, so it’s not going to be stimulating the way that so many kid-driven videos tend to be.

So, please feel free to subscribe to the KiddoStoryTime YouTube channel, so that those nights when you’re in a crunch at story time you have a back-up plan. This is also good for road trips, long waits in doctors offices, or any time when the kiddo would be “bored” without something entertaining. Consider this your Ace In The Hole!!!

*DISCLAIMER ONE: This channel will be geared toward books for preschool through about 1st or 2nd grade. I have been trying to identify the books by age group as I post them, to help parents and kids sort through them more easily. Right now there are just a handful uploaded, but I am working through some great lists of books and hope to have quite an online library for you to scan through shortly.

*DISCLAIMER TWO: I do not have any claim to any of the stories read here on this page. This is similar to going to a library and hearing a story-time lady reading to your children. I receive no compensation from the reading of these children’s books; this is simply a way to share my love for books with my own children, and–in turn–with yours.

Make it a great day,

Marilyn Horton

Category:

Blessings, Children, Gifts & Talents, Service, Venture Out!

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89) Passing the Torch of Blessings

Today we begin with the book of Judges, chapters 1-2.

It is pretty awesome to me that we’ve come so far on our journey already (Genesis, Job, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, and two chapters of Psalms) and still have such a lot to learn, read, and experience in His Living Word still to come.

The Lord is so amazing in all the ways He is working through us and through this study. I love it! It makes me happy and excited and full to the brim with joy!!!

CHECK MY MEMORY: Is this the first time in our reading that the not-long-for-this-earth leader of the people did not appoint a new leader before his death? I understand that the Lord appoints each leader, but this time the Lord doesn’t appoint one until after the fact.

Abraham blessed Isaac.

Isaac blessed Jacob (Israel), accidentally, thinking he was speaking to Esau.

Israel gave final instructions to each of his sons before his own passing and Moses rose up as a leader and servant of the Lord, out of the tribe of Levi.

Moses laid hands on Joshua in his last days even though he was still strong and able-bodied.

However, Joshua died without the Lord giving him any instruction on who to appoint as a predecessor. This is odd to me and worth keeping in the back of my mind in the reading to come. God does nothing by accident. Period.

After the death of Joshua, the Israelites asked he Lord, “Who will be the first to go up and fight for us against the Canaanites?” (1:1, NIV)

This is a thought-provoking passage of scripture, these two little intro chapters of the book of Judges. When the people have a God-appointed leader, though they sin, the return quickly to the Lord, repent and correct. But without God-appointed leaders, or when His judges passed, the people forget the Lord and return to their evil ways, and even doing worse than they had done before against Him. His anger burned against the people and their worldly attitudes took precedence over anything of the spiritual realm. It’s just as the Song of Moses foretold before he passed on. The descendants of the Lord’s chosen people would not even know of God or hear of Him or the great works He did in the lives of their ancestors, so they did not walk in His light.

It is critical that our children and our children’s children and on down the bloodline, know where we’ve been, where we come from, what we have lived through, and how we lived to tell about it all. It is critical they know He has given this life to us and all the ways He has blessed us daily in big and small ways.

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

Tomorrow’s scripture reading: Judges, chapters 3-5

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Bible in a Year-Chronological Study, Blessings, Children, Judges, Trust

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88) [YOUR NAME HERE] Servant of the Lord

Let’s jump right in to today’s scripture passage, as there is so much to discuss.

Today’s scripture reading: Joshua, chapters 22-24, the final chapters

First of all, I’m sure you noticed as I did the repetition within the first five verses of today’s reading of Moses’ descriptor: Moses the servant of the Lord. Moses is mentioned like that three times within the first five verses of chapter 22, and every Bible translation I checked had the verbiage exactly like that: Moses the servant of the Lord.

Wouldn’t you love to be described that way, as a servant of the Lord? Of course, enjoying that may hinge on pride, but really I’m just speaking hypothetically. If we are on this journey together, likelihood is that we all consider ourselves servants of the Lord, but do others see that servant-hood in us? If they do not, it is my opinion that we need to work harder. We don’t need to boast about our servant-hood but those around us should see the Lord as Master of our lives, just by knowing and living in close proximity with us. Can they see it? Is it there? Is there more we can each still do?

Try it out for size:

Marilyn, servant of the Lord.

Lisa, servant of the Lord.

Alice, servant of the Lord.

Katherine, servant of the Lord.

(Insert your name here), servant of the Lord.

Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? Now, let’s back up our titles with action!

Next, the business with the alternate altar struck me as more than a bit odd, and I would really love to hear some educated guesses on this one; hopefully you can help me get my mind around this whole story.

Thus says the whole congregation of the Lord, “What is this unfaithful act you have committed against the God of Israel, turning away from following the Lord this day, by building yourselves an altar, to rebel against the Lord this day?” (22:16, NASB)

“Did not Achan the son of Zerah act unfaithfully in the things under the ban, and wrath fall on all the congregation of Israel? And that man did not perish alone in his iniquity.” (22:20, NASB)

Then the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered and spoke to the heads of the families of Israel. (22:21, NASB)

“Far be it from us that we should rebel against the Lord and turn away from following the Lord this day, by building an altar for burnt offering, for grain offering or for sacrifice, besides the altar of the Lord our God which is before His tabernacle.” (22:29, NASB)

The sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad called the altar Witness; “For,” they said, “it is a witness between us that the Lord is God.” (22:34, NASB)

I can see from a logical standpoint where the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh were coming from, but the feeling side of me can’t get the rationale behind having a copy of the tabernacle altar. I truly look forward to researching this topic further at a later date–as I am working through this year purposefully avoiding the outside influences that come with doing reading and research to accompany each day’s Bible in a Year passage of scripture; this year is about opening my own mind and understanding. Until then, I would love to know your thoughts or what you have studied about this particular portion of scripture.

As we come to the end of Joshua’s life, and therefore the end of the book of Joshua, I enjoy his sort of parting words and reminders and tying up loose ends. Joshua, being older and certainly of a natural age to pass, seemed to know that he was not long for this earth, though it is not written that the Lord told him as much directly as He had Moses before him.

But Joshua tells the people of Israel: “Be very careful to love the Lord your God.” (23: 11, NIV)

“You know in your hearts and in all your souls that not one word of all the good words with the Lord your God spoke concerning you has failed; all have been fulfilled for you, not one of them has failed.” (23:14, NASB)

Then, my favorite part, the recap (my husband says I am queen of the recap, which is not necessarily a compliment in his book, but is in mine):

Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your forefathers, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the River and worshiped other gods. But I took your father Abraham from the land beyond the river and led him throughout Canaan and gave him many descendants. I gave him Isaac, and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I assigned the hill country of Seir to Esau, but Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt.

“‘Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and I afflicted the Egyptians by what I did there, and I brought you out. When I brought your fathers out of Egypt, you cam to the sea, and the Egyptians pursued them with chariots and horsemen as far as the Red Sea. But they cried to the Lord for help, and he put darkness between you and the Egyptians; he brought the sea over them and covered them. You saw with your own eyes what I did to the Egyptians. Then you lived in the desert for a long time.

“‘I brought you to the land of the Amorites who lived east of the Jordan. They fought against you, but I gave them into your hands. I destroyed them from before you, and y0u took possession of their land. When Balak son of Zippor, the kind of Moab, prepared to fight against Israel, he sent for Balaam son of Beor to put a curse on you. But I would not listen to Balaam, so he blessed you again and again, and I delivered you out of his hand.

“‘Then you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho. The citizens of Jericho fought against you, as did also the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites and Jebusites, but I gave them into your hands. I sent the hornet ahead of you, which drove them out before you–also the two Amorite kings. You did not do it with your own sword and bow. So I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant.’

“Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods of your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods of your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (24:2-15, NIV)

Here’s what I love about this particular recap: this is your’s and my story, as well. Our versions have different details, but in the end, we are all on the same path to the Lord. My version would go something like this:

For generations, your family has served the Lord faithfully, acting in kind and serving the Lord in many ways. Through Eli and Ellen, Jack and Sherlie, the Lord has blessed your life, giving you Gary and Susan as faithful parents and role models to follow on your path. It is because of their faithfulness and good deeds in the Lord’s name that your life has been richly blessed, and through your service, your children’s lives will continue to be blessed, as well.

You have been sent around the country, meeting people and being introduced to cultures and people who you may not have ever been exposed to otherwise, with less faithful forefathers, but those experiences will serve you well as long as you walk the earth in service.

Then, through your husband’s family, you were blessed with a God-fearing husband, and through trials and tests, the Lord has been with you and protected you from the enemy, and brought you closer to Him. Together with your family, He brought you to a place where you would walk closer to God than ever before, as you progress down the path in faith, His grace is there with you always. He is leading you and directing you and your family continually, and as long as you listen to His guidance, you will continue to be blessed servants of the Lord.

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. (24:15, NIV)

Day 88 reading: Judges, chapters 1-2

Category:

Bible in a Year-Chronological Study, Blessings, Children, Faith, Joshua, Perseverance, Service

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83) Oh, for the love of Veggie Tales

Today’s scripture reading: Joshua, chapters 5-8

“You cannot stand before your enemies until you have removed the things under the ban from your midst.” (7:13, NASB)

Today’s passage has a theme, of sorts: until we let go of all of the earthly treasures that we allow to be important on our walk, we cannot overcome the evil in our lives.

Is this fair? Do you agree? Is that what the Word is speaking to you today?

click to go to VeggieTales.com

The story of Joshua makes me smile ear to ear. Not because it is comical or funny, but because I read the accounts of Joshua taking Jericho and what I see in my mind’s eye is Junior Asparagus and all of his little Veggie Tales friends. You see, the Veggie Tales version of this story is so dear to me and I can remember so vividly my sweet Morgan and Kelsey when they were little, watching this movie (then a VHS) countless times, and as Charlotte also grew old enough to watch, she has loved the whole Veggie Tales crew, too. I can hear Junior’s little voice and see the squash “Israelites” marching around and around the city, while the pea “Jericho guards” essentially talk smack to the Israelites about how much good marching around in circles is going to do to get them closer to taking over their city.

And, actually, today it also struck me how closely the children’s version of the story actually kept to the adult version in the Bible. It’s such a far cry from my youngest daughter’s “big girl” Bible, which is so overly simplified that it makes me want to write a children’s Bible just so I can keep from struggling through hers any longer. But the Veggie Tales stories actually use the words in the Bible, so they are familiar to children, and mix them with fun characters, songs, and morals.

I can see this scene in my head from the Veggie Tales movie so clearly as I read these words in the book of Joshua:

Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”

“Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell face-down to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?” (5:13-14, NIV)

Junior Asparagus is so cute–Morgan and Kelsey even had a Junior Asparagus stuffed character that snored, which they loved until his little snorer finally wore out–with his floppy little asparagus body face down on the ground, talking into the dirt.

The land God had promised the people of Israel was delivered into their hands. They ate the yields of the land and they didn’t have to eat manna any longer. They were home.

Yet, still…

But the sons of Israel acted unfaithfully in regard to the things under the ban…therefore the anger of the Lord burned against the sons of Israel. (7:1, NASB)

Over and again the Israelites (and you and I still to this day), see Him in action but still turn our backs. When will we learn? When will we fully stand up against the enemy, wearing the full armor of God, and defeat that slimy sucker once and for all?

“You cannot stand before you enemies until you have removed the things under the ban from your midst.” (7:13, NASB)

Or, as the King James Version reads: “There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you.”

We each have our own accursed thing, and we each know what that thing is in our own lives. We may have a whole slew of accursed things in our own lives, but we need to know two critical things about them:

1) God wants to help us defeat every accursed thing that is among us. Whether it is one habit or a whole truck-load of issues or hang-ups or addictions or problems. God wants to help you heal so you can live fully with Him.

2) Whatever accursed thing(s) are holding us back, they are truly doing just that. They are standing in the way of a truly open, loving, plentiful relationship with the Lord our God. Allow Him to heal you, and do not let anything ever stand in your way of getting to Him every again.

“And you shall rise from your ambush and take possession of the city, for the Lord your God will deliver it into your hand.” (8:7, NASB)

Yes, He will!

God bless you, friends. I love you all. I think of you often. I so enjoy hearing from you and knowing your insights, questions and comments on our daily reading. You are all awesome and I am so glad to know you, my brothers and sisters in Him.

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

Day 84 reading: Joshua, chapters 9-11

Category:

Blessings, Children, Faith, Bible in a Year-Chronological Study, Perseverance, Forgiveness, Joshua

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79) I Choose a Power-Filled Existence!

I hope you are enjoying this journey as much as I am. Sometimes it’s painful. Sometimes, the lessons hit a little too close to home. But that’s the whole point! We are making positive changes for our eternal salvation, and we are making those changes daily, every time we pick up this book.

Day 79 reading: Deuteronomy, chapters 28-29

If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God. (28:1-2, NIV) Then, there is a lovely list of wonderful blessings that every man, woman, and child desires.

Everything will be blessed that you put your hand to. (28:8, NIV) Don’t you love those days (or moments) when everything is going your way? No mistakes at work. No tempers flailing with the children. Dinner is cooked easily and to perfection. Laundry is finished and there aren’t even any socks left orphaned at the end of the load. Life is good. When everything you put your hand to is blessed, oh, what a blessing!

And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the Lord (28:10, KJV). I can’t think of a greater compliment on earth than that, my friends! To be mixing and living among the people, in our cities and communities, and have everyone who encounters us know that we are called by Him. Just by looking at us. Just by being near and observing. Just by speaking with us or sharing lunch.

When we call on Him, when we obey His answers, we are blessed. And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left (28:14, KJV).

Life is hard and full of distractions, but we have to put our blinders on to all those distractions to the right or to the left. No looking back. No turning side to side. The only way we need to be focusing is upon Him.

I find in my own life that when I spend time with Him, when I make a concerted effort to really give Him my human time and attention, that my life is noticeably smoother. I see it in my day-to-days, I see it in my marriage and in my motherhood. I see it in my relationships with other family members, friends, and even strangers. In fact, just the other evening my precious husband came home from work on somewhat of a rant. We all have those days and nights when we just have a lot on our chest and we absolutely have to let it all go–NOW.

Our Lord is the calm in the storm. I have a very real example of this from a storm we had here in Fort Smith, Arkansas several years ago. It was a hail storm with hard, straight-line winds and even tornadoes in the surrounding areas. Just as glass started to break out of all the windows on the western side of our house, huddled in the hallway with my children, we started to pray together. Our house was definitely run through the ringer that night, but we were safe and, not to sound too cliche, but it could have been a lot worse! Thank you, Lord, for your protection and your calming effects.

What is also interesting to me, as a believer and follower of our Lord God, is what horror lies in store for those who do not believe in Him and do not willfully follow His commands. Here is just a taste from today’s passage:

The Lord shall cause you to be defeated before your enemies; you will go out one way against them, but you will flee seven ways before them, and you will be an example of terror to all the kingdoms of the earth.

Your carcasses will be food to all birds of the sky and to the beasts of the earth, and there will be no one to frighten them away.

The Lord will smite you with the boils of Egypt and with tumors and with the scab and with the itch, from which you cannot be healed.

The Lord will smite you with madness and with blindness and with bewilderment of heart; and you will grope at noon, as the blind man gropes in darkness, and you will not prosper in your ways; but you shall only be oppressed and robbed continually, with none to save you. (28:25-29, NASB)

My friends, disobeying God’s commands or turning a shoulder against your Creator does not keep you neutral. We are either “for” Him and walking with Him in all our ways, or we are “against” Him and have all of this pain and more to deal with on a daily basis.

Make sure there is no man or woman, clan or tribe among you today whose heart turns away from the Lord our God to go and worship the gods of those nations; make sure there is no root among you that produces such bitter poison. (29:18, NIV)

I do not want to walk away from Him any longer. I do not want to ever turn my back to Him or doubt His awesome power. And, do you know what? I don’t want to watch my friends, loved ones, or even strangers do so either. I want to stand strong for Him, encouraging and inspiring all those who do not know God to know Him and to love Him and to give their lives to Him. There is so much joy to be found in Him and so much anguish to avoid in obedience.

When we disobey: Your sons and daughters will be given to another nation, and you will wear out your eyes watching for them day after day, powerless to lift a hand. (28:32, NIV)

The parents among you readers can certainly relate to this warning from our Lord. Parenthood brings with it so much fear and heartbreak anyway; watching the clock when the new teenage drivers are out late, the young one’s first time to ride their bike to school unaccompanied, first steps, first dates, firsts of all sorts that make a parent tense up and hold our collective breaths until the moment has passed. I love my children so completely and know that feeling of being powerless to lift a hand.

Life without Him is, indeed, a powerless existence. Life with Him is power-filled. I choose the latter.

All these curses shall come upon you and shall pursue you and overtake you till you are destroyed, because you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you.

They shall be upon you for a sign of warning to other nations and for a wonder, and upon your descendants forever. (28:45-46, Amplified)

If you do not carefully follow all the words of this law, which are written in this book, and do not revere this glorious and awesome name–the Lord your God–the Lord will send fearful plagues on you and your descendants, harsh and prolonged disasters, and severe and lingering illnesses. (28:58-59, NIV)

Lessons based on hellfire and damnation have never been my cup of tea, but if anything should stir us all to some serious action in the name of the Lord, this passage in Deuteronomy certainly should! God is so many things; He is Love, Creator, Savior, and King; He is also a jealous god who takes all of the grace He extends constantly to us very seriously. We should take His laws seriously, as well.

Just as it pleased the Lord to make you prosper and increase in number, so it will please him to ruin and destroy you. (28:63, NIV)

Yikes!

But, friends, our eyes have seen the glory of the Lord in our own lives, in many ways just like the Israelites did in the times of Deuteronomy. He has a covenant with us just as He made with them thousands of years ago. Isn’t it an amazing blessing that He continues to love us even though we fail at following His laws and commandments too much of the time. His grace covers us. Praise God!

We are standing today is the Presence of the Lord our God, just as the Israelites were in Deuteronomy, chapter 29, as Moses called them to listen. His Presence is not a fire shining in the night along our path or a cloud that keeps our enemies from sensing our physical presence (though it can be), but primarily His Presence is dwelling in each of us every moment of every day, and for that I am truly thankful. We are in His Presence. We are in His Presence now and 20 minutes ago, and tonight while we sleep; all of the time.

You are standing here in order to enter into a covenant with the Lord your God, a covenant the Lord is making with you this day and sealing with an oath, to confirm you this day as his people, that he may be your God as he promised you and as he swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. (29:12-13, NIV)

We are His people, and He is our God.

The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law. (29:29, KJV)

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

Day 80 reading: Deuteronomy, chapters 30-31

Category:

Bible in a Year-Chronological Study, Blessings, Children, Creation, Deuteronomy, Eternity, Faith, Forgiveness, Healing, Perseverance, Rules worth LIVING by, Seeing God, Trust

78) “Cursed is the man…”

Day 78 reading: Deuteronomy, chapters 24-27

Cursed is the man who carves an image or casts an idol–a thing detestable to the Lord, the work of the craftsman’s hands–and sets it up in secret.

Then all the people shall say, “Amen!” (27:15, NIV)

As far as idols and graven images go, I’ve always had a curiosity about photographs. I am a picture taking fanatic, so I’m hoping they are not among the things detestable to the Lord. But I think of very special pictures that I have displayed around my house; a special photo of my husband reading the paper in a coffee shop on a lazy Saturday morning, a fun picture I took of two of the kids years ago at a park that I will always cherish, and our most recent family portrait that is so special to me I smile every time I see it. Pictures of children, parents, grandparents, friends, and loved ones. These pictures are captured in moments of time that spark memories. We sit and stare with affection. We recall the feeling of that moment. We smell the smells or hear the sounds that were in the air as each snap shot was taken. Do these count?

Cursed is the man who dishonors his father or his mother.

Then all the people shall say, “Amen!” (27:16, NIV)

I wish I could remember exactly how I was taught to truly honor and respect my parents. My children respond to me the way they are told, which is respectful, but I’m not sure I would go as far as to say they truly honor me. I don’t write that as a sad statement, I just think it takes a certain level of maturity before the line between minding your parents and honoring your parents is crossed. I mind my parents and I honor them. If my parents in-law ask something of me, I honor them because I honor them as my husband’s parents and as my elders.

Cursed is the man who moves his neighbor’s boundary stone.

Then all the people shall say, “Amen!” (27: 17, NIV)

Or fence or stake or line in the sand. Unfortunately for us, it is human nature to always want a little bit more. As the saying goes, give me an inch, I’ll want a mile. Sad but true. We have a wonderful old house with a nice large lot for the children to play. But you know what I want? The lot next to ours that is on a corner. Will I go out and move my neighbor’s boundary markers to get more? No, but isn’t it true that we always want more?

Cursed is the man who leads the blind astray on the road.

Then all the people shall say, “Amen!” (27:18, NIV)

It is no secret that I am an exercise junkie. My entire family is fitness-oriented. Well, when I work out, I jam those earphones in and I crank up the tunes while I crank out the sets. But lately I have started listening to downloaded Bible study lessons while I train, instead of AC/DC or Metallica or even heart pumping praise and worship music. It’s awesome! The other day I was listening to a study on Jeremiah that Kay Arthur was teaching, and she was telling about false prophets and people “of God” speaking of things that are not the Truth. It was a study warning us to be very careful who we allow us to lead us down the road. And, my friends, I thought of you as I listened to Ms. Arthur because we are working through the Bible in a Year so that we can have sure footing against falsities. When something is said in His holy name that is not Truth, Lord, please let us catch it! Friends, through this study, we are reading and studying and discussing, and therefore protecting ourselves from those who are trying to lead us astray on the road.

Cursed is the man who withholds justice from the alien, the fatherless or the widow.

Then all the people shall say, “Amen!” (27:19, NIV)

I am guilty of this in my heart and sometimes even in my speech. When I hear something on the news of someone from some foreign land who looks different and speaks differently than I do doing something wrong, they are not innocent until proven guilty, they’re just guilty. We judge so much by our first impression and make hasty decisions based solely on appearances rather than the Word. I have to continually remind myself that when I speak ugly to someone else, I am in essence speaking ugly to my Lord; if I say or think something tacky about someone else, I am essentially thinking something tacky about my God; if I do something hurtful to someone else, I am actually hurting the great I Am; if I withhold justice from someone, assuming they have done wrong when really the jury is still out on the matter, I am judging my Savior.

Cursed is the man who sleeps with his father’s wife, for he dishonors his father’s bed

Then all the people shall say, “Amen!” (27: 20, NIV)

I guess Biblical times knew a Jerry Springer-like crowd, too. Actually I prefer to keep in mind that when this was written, men had numerous wives, so it wasn’t like some son had the hots for his own mother. Rather, one of the many sons a man had was also attracted to one of the other wives, and so forth. This makes this visual a little less disturbing, but still goes in line with the rule about honoring your father and mother. If you honor your father, you’re not going to find your step-mother (or whatever they called them back then) tantalizing.

Cursed is the man who has sexual relations with any animal.

Then all the people shall say, “Amen!” (27:21, NIV)

All I am going to say here is: Ditto, Amen!

Cursed is the man who sleeps with his sister, the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.

Then all the people shall say, “Amen!” (27:22, NIV)

Again, I am having to work to keep this in perspective. This commandment is not only talking about blood siblings, but step-siblings or half-siblings. Still a little Jerry Springerish and creepy to think about. But, like the insane warnings on things like hair dryers (“do not take them in the bathtub with you”) and dry cleaning bags (“this is not a toy”). Those warnings are, unfortunately, out there because someone, somewhere has done the thing that the tag is warning against. Same here.

Cursed is the man who sleeps with his mother-in-law.

Then all the people shall say, “Amen!” (27:23, NIV)

Now, this one seems to be a little more relevant to this day and age, but what do I know, I don’t have a brother and I’ve never found my in-laws sexually enticing. But in true Mrs. Robinson fashion, I can see where older women and younger men have a certain draw, and one particular “older woman” that a younger man would see often would be a mother-in-law. So, that’s a no-go, too.

Cursed is the man who kills his neighbor secretly.

Then all the people shall say, “Amen!” (27:24, NIV)

I suppose the word secretly is used here to differentiate between public stoning hanging, etc. Malicious murder, which even today is frowned upon, yet (unfortunately) gotten away with daily.

Cursed is the man who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person.

Then all the people shall say, “Amen!” (27:25, NIV)

So, put those aspirations to be a hit-man aside right now, my friends!

Cursed is the man who does not uphold the words of this law by carrying them out.

Then all the people shall say, “Amen!” (27:26, NIV)

This one hits us where it counts. The King James version reads all the words of this law. We hold in our hands each day the Word, the Truth, the ultimate guidebook to life. Cursed is the [person] who does not uphold the words of this law by carrying them out.

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

Day 79 reading: Deuteronomy, chapters 28-29

Category:

Bible in a Year-Chronological Study, Children, Deuteronomy, Eternity, Rules worth LIVING by

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74) Our Children Deserve to be Taught

Today’s scripture reading: Deuteronomy, chapters 11-13

Morgan, Kelsey & Charlotte

Remember today that your children were not the ones who saw and experienced the discipline of the Lord your God: his majesty, his mighty hand, his outstretched arm. (11:2, NIV)

Our children neither know nor comprehend the power of the Lord; it is our job to hand down the accounts of the ways God has moved in our lives personally, and in the lives of those around us. It is our job, as parents, to share the Word so that they can know it and walk with Him.

“Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as a symbol to your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking with them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” (11:18-19, NIV)

Our children deserve the best God has to offer them, and that introduction comes through us. They learn as much from the positive things we teach them and show them and that they observe in us, as they do from the negative, hurtful things that we do not do, the ways we do not act and the things we keep from saying against someone else or some situation.

Whatever I command you, be watchful to do it; you shall not add to it or diminish it. (12:32, Amplified)

As humans we often feel we are greater than; greater than other people, other nations, other cultures, other sexes, other businesses, other churches, other families, other members of our own family. But we are to be watchful that we don’t get too big for our own britches, and neither add to or take away from the Word of God to fit our human desires and worldly wants.

Let us strive, as fellow believers in Him and fellow sojourners through the
Word, to raise up our children in the way they should go, so they will not turn from it as they grow older (paraphrased from scripture), for I believe the children are our future (paraphrased from Whitney Houston).

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

Day 75 reading: Deuteronomy, chapters 14-16

Category:

Bible in a Year-Chronological Study, Children, Deuteronomy, Rules worth LIVING by

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72) This is Our Guidebook

Every time I’m reminded that Moses never actually got to go into the Promised Land, I’m a little sad. He led, he wandered, he had one-on-one conversations with God.

Moses spoke to the Israelites, saying: “But because of you the Lord was angry with me and would not listen to me. ‘That is enough,’ the Lord said. ‘Do not speak to me anymore about this matter. Go up to the top of Pisgah and look west and north and south and east. Look at the land with your own eyes, since you are not going to cross this Jordan.’” (from yesterday’s scripture passage, Deuteronomy 3:26-27, NIV)

Day 72 reading, Deuteronomy, chapters 5-7

God spoke: “You shall have no other gods before Me or besides Me.” (5:7, Amplified)

I’ve been thinking and writing so much on His Lordship lately, yet I can’t seem to get beyond it. Every time I pick up my Bible or listen to a song on the radio, there is it: His Lordship. Oftentimes, I think God uses even our modern media to remind us of the things we need to put in the forefront of our thoughts. His Lordship. What in this world could possibly be more critical to our lives than Him?

He is the substance in our lives. He is the cake. This worldly stuff–our comfortable homes, our cars that get us from Point A to Point B, our families and circle of dear friends, our jobs, our toys, our phones, our gadgets and do-dad’s–are all the icing on the cake (and maybe even some sprinkles). God gives us these things. Without Him there is nothing.

He also insures that we hear, see, and feel the things we most need to be hearing, seeing, and feeling at any given time in our lives.

“You shall not make for yourself [to worship] a graven image or any likeness of anything that is in the heavens above or that is in the earth beneath or that is in the water under the earth.” (5:8, Amplified)

My cell phone is quite possibly my favorite material possession, and sometimes my phone (with all of the cool apps and a whole variety of uses in my daily life) gets in the way of more important things (like prayer time, family, and sleep, to name a few). I allow my phone to get in the way of things that are really more important, at times.

My vehicle, another of my favorite material things. All shiny and sparkling, clean, and still with that “new car smell” even after a year of living life with my family. I have to admit, it makes me a little proud…Pride: another relationship killer when it comes to God.

“You shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, and showing mercy and steadfast love to thousands and to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep my commandments.” (5:9-10, Amplified)

How often do we find ourselves, at least figuratively, bowing down to the things of this world more so than we bow down, literally, to our Lord, Creator, Savior, King? We most certainly do serve our smart phones. As a culture, we have become a people who cannot keep from checking our phones constantly. It holds our email, our contacts, our social networking, our calendars, our stock tickers, our cameras, and even our Bibles. We serve this device as we give it special covers and protective screens, we take out insurance on it, and put it in a special pocket in our purse; we serve it as we take care of it sometimes better than we do the people around us and we certainly serve it when we pay more attention to our smart phones than we are doing for the people right there in the same room, same house, same family.

“Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, or your manservant or your maidservant, or your ox or your donkey or any of your livestock, or the stranger or sojourner who is within your gates, that your manservant and your maidservant may rest as well as you.” (5:13-14, Amplified)

I have really worked to drive this point home in my own household. As I’ve written before, the “day of rest” has been anything but for so long in so many of our lives, but God gives us and we deserve one day out of the week to do no work. Also, as I have studied this on our journey together, and really taken it all in, it’s not only that we are to rest, but we are to allow others to rest, as well. My family has taken a step in this direction, in that our after church Sunday lunches have lessened. I can’t honestly say they have stopped completely, but that’s one of those hard habits to break. We have become much more conscious about making our Sundays more sacred, not just the time we spend in worship on Sunday mornings, but all day. We do not work, and we do what we can to not cause others to have to work, as well (ie: waitresses, cooks, salespeople, etc.).

“Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, that your days may be prolonged and that it may go well with you in the land which the Lord your God gives you.” (5:16, Amplified)

I know my own mother (Hi, Mom!) loves to read this one. But, honestly, since we began this chronological study I have caught myself putting this rule into effect much better. My parents and I work together…every day…all day…and we love it, but truth be told, sometimes work gets in the way of family ties. Sometimes it’s easier to view each other more in terms of co-workers, and as co-workers the lines of honor tend to get muddled a bit.

“And the Lord heard your words when you spoke to me and the Lord said to me, I have heard the words of this people which they have spoken to you. They have said well all that they have spoken.” (5:28, Amplified)

He hears us! What an awesome reminder!!! No matter how great or small we think a thing is in our lives, God hears us. Does this point strike you right in the heart and make your throat knot up a little? It does me! It’s exciting. It’s endearing. And even a little frightening (so He heard me when I thought that about such-and-such?).

“Oh, that they had such a [mind and] heart in them always [reverently] to fear Me and keep all My commandments, that it might go well with them and with their children forever!” (5:29, Amplified)

You know sometimes when your children are acting up and you are just about ready to snatch them bald-headed, and then out of nowhere your mom or dad or some other older adult says something like, “That’s the same thing you used to do when you were her age.” That always rubs me wrong, because it’s so true. BUT, our children can also pick up and inherit good habits from us, that it might go well with them and with their children forever! Let them see you worship. Let them see you pray. Let them see you overcome the tendencies that threaten to drive a wedge between you and our Lord. Let them know there is an enemy out there and he never sleeps, but neither does the Lord. Glory to God!

“Therefore you people shall be watchful to do as the Lord your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. You shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land which you shall possess.” (5:32-33, Amplified)

I am really enjoying this re-cap from the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. It’s like every verse strikes a nerve and is critical to our walk with God. It’s a beautiful day to live in the Word!

“Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord [the only Lord]. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your [mind and] heart and with your entire being and with all your might. And these words which I am commanding you this day shall be [first] in your [own] minds and hearts; [then] you shall whet and sharpen them so as to make them penetrate, and teach and impress them diligently upon the [minds and] hearts of your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise up.” (6:4-7, Amplified)

I love this. He is our constant guide. This Word acts as our guidebook. Our Bibles are our maps, our answers, our guidebook on our journey to Him. And when we keep Him close at all times and keep His Words fresh on our hearts and minds, we draw nearer and nearer to Him.

“Know, recognize, and understand therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, Who keeps covenant and steadfast love and mercy with those who love Him and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations.” (7:9, Amplified)

Today, you and I are living in grace based on the faithfulness of the generations that came before us. And to a thousand generations, our own offspring will continue to reap the blessings of our faithfulness, as well. If saving our own lives isn’t enough, think of a thousand generations of lives that can reflect our love for the Lord.

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

Day 73 reading: Deuteronomy, chapters 8-10

Category:

Bible in a Year-Chronological Study, Children, Deuteronomy, Faith, Rules worth LIVING by, Trust

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Road Signs to Him

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Who Else Could Use a SYSTEM RESET??? {Video}

135) Let God out of the box you’re keeping Him in

133) David was Only Human

126) Living a Life of Great Thanksgiving

125) Let God Arise!

I fear no evil, for You are with me. (23:4, NASB)

This is the generation of those who seek Him. (24:6, NASB)

O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. (47:1, KJV)

109) Satan Wants You to FEEL alone!

98) Seeing Our Own Stories Within the Word

94) Ohhhh, Samson!

93) Three things…

92) Weary Yet Pursuing His Kingdom!

Calling All “Plugged In” Kiddos!

89) Passing the Torch of Blessings

88) [YOUR NAME HERE] Servant of the Lord

83) Oh, for the love of Veggie Tales

79) I Choose a Power-Filled Existence!

78) “Cursed is the man…”

74) Our Children Deserve to be Taught

72) This is Our Guidebook

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I fear no evil, for You are with me. (23:4, NASB)

This is the generation of those who seek Him. (24:6, NASB)

O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. (47:1, KJV)

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