Moses | Road Signs to Him

How long will we wander, before returning to Him?

Posts tagged ‘Moses’

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

Category:

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

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

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85) Living wholeheartedly!

Day 85 reading: Joshua, chapters 12-15

Through all of the lists and clans and inheritances within today’s reading, I found something (rather, someone) that jumped off the page and called to me: Caleb.

“And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, but my brothers who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt with fear. I, however, followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly. So on that day Moses swore to me, ‘The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.’” (14:7-9, NIV)

Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance. So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Japhunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the Lord, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly. (14:13-14, NIV)

Following the Lord our God wholeheartedly!

The New King James uses: he wholly followed the Lord God of Israel

The Amplified reads: he wholly followed the Lord, the God of Israel

and the New American Standard Bible says: he followed the Lord God of Israel fully

Caleb followed the Lord with all that was in him and in all that he did. Wouldn’t it be such an awesome feeling to live such a life that even God’s chosen leaders would describe us as living for Him wholeheartedly. We have something that they did not have when this was originally written; we have Jesus’ blood which covers us and our sins. Walking with Him wholeheartedly is absolutely possible for us, even with all the evil that surrounds us. We can take this journey together as we bind to one another and live every moment of our lives for Him wholeheartedly.

As the countdown continues to my 35th birthday (and the special unveiling that is going to occur on that day–March 15, 2013), I have a fire in my soul to do more, think cleaner, and be better, all in His name. I want to live for Him, every day, every moment, in all circumstances wholeheartedly.

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

Day 86 reading: Joshua, chapters 16-18

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

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84) Taking our Provisions from the Lord

Day 84 reading: Joshua, chapters 9-11

When there is good around, there is sure to be evil lurking in the midst. Everyone wants a piece of the good stuff, and some will deceive just to get it, as was the case with the Hivites in our reading today.

They said to him, “Your servants have come from a very far country because of the fame of the Lord your God.” (9:9, NASB)

This was an untruth, but when people find out about the incredible works the Lord does in each of our lives, they want a taste of the goodness. Who can blame them? I want that joy of the Lord in my own life, too! But there is work to be done, first.

And, as followers and servants of the Lord our God, we no longer act on our own, with our own human brains that are only here for this life, but we choose to consult the Lord in decisions, such as who to allow into our lives, who to trust, where to journey, and how far to travel down this or that path to lead to Him.

So the men of Israel took some of their provisions, and did not ask for the counsel of the Lord. (9:14, NASB)

I know I’m guilty of acting without first seeking. And isn’t it true that, whether major or minor decisions, that’s when I fall flat on my face. The Lord stresses again and again through His Inspired Word the importance of communication and relationship with Him.

Then Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel,

“Oh son, stand still at Gibeon, And O moon in the valley of Aijalon.”

So the sun stood still and the moon stopped, until the nation avenged themselves of their enemies.

Is it not written in the book of Jashar? And the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day. There was no day like that before it or after it, when the Lord listened to the voice of a man; for the Lord fought for Israel. (10:12-14, NASB)

Joshua was so blessed by the Lord that He acted as Joshua spoke.

I may be reading into this too much or putting my own slant in here, but I believe that Joshua was so filled with the Spirit that his words were truly the Lord’s, so God was acting through Joshua and not necessarily because of Joshua. I would enjoy reading your thoughts on this, as well.

Then, after the defeat of nations and kings, Joshua spoke to his leaders with further strength and proof of the Lord’s Presence under his belt:

When they brought these kings out to Joshua, Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said to the chiefs of the men of war who had gone with him, “Come near, put your feet on the necks of these kings.” So they came near and put their feet on their necks.

Joshua then said to them, “Do not fear or be dismayed! Be strong and courageous, for thus the Lord will do to all your enemies with whom you fight.” (10:24-25, NASB)

I find it interesting that after these Israelites defeated the powerful kings and nations, Joshua is telling them to stand firm and not be afraid in the sight of these defeated kings, who were actually awaiting their death. But it strikes a familiar note with me that in the face of storms or wars, I find that I act without fear, charging ahead to protect and defend. Then, it’s only after the fact, after the dust has settled, that all that I have been through seems to set in and the fear also sets heavy on me. That’s when the tears and fears come. It seems the same was happening among the chiefs of Israel. But Joshua tells them to “Be strong and courageous” as we should be, as well. He is with us in defeat of our enemies, and in defeat of the evil one who is constantly at war in (and for) our lives. We are to be strong and courageous in preparation, in action, and in retrospect!

Thus Joshua struck all the land, the hill country and the Negev and the lowland and the slopes and all their kings. He left no survivor, but he utterly destroyed all who breathed, just as the Lord, the God of Israel, had commanded. (10:40, NASB)

Just as the Lord had commanded Moses his servant, so Moses commanded Joshua, and so Joshua did; he left nothing undone that the Lord had commanded Moses. (11:15, NASB)

So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord had spoken to Moses, and Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. (11:23, NASB)

Acting in obedience has to be first on our hearts and minds in our walk with Him.

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

Day 85 reading: Joshua, chapters 12-15

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Bible in a Year-Chronological Study, Eternity, Faith, Forgiveness, Joshua, Perseverance, Prayer, Quiet time, Rules worth LIVING by, Seeing God, Trust

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82) Our Lord Knows Us!

It’s always a tough transition from one great leader to the next. It’s not as difficult when the first leader wasn’t quite living up to the hype, but either way there are growing pains involved.

Can you even imagine following in Moses’ footsteps? How do you think Joshua felt? Surely he was among the most faithful or this critical job would never have been passed to him, but still, there must have been some natural, human nerves involved.

Moses Joshua

I found this lovely image of Moses laying hands on Joshua and wanted to share it with you. I do not know the artist but thanks to the joys of modern technology, anything you want is always just a click or two away.

Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the Spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. (Deut. 34:9, NIV)

Today’s scripture passage: Joshua, chapters 1-4

As with every other leader God has chosen, Joshua was given specific instructions. The Lord said to him, “No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you or forsake you.” (1:5, NIV)

And the Israelites were behind their new leader in faith, saying, “Only may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses.” (1:17, NIV)

If we are faithful to Him, He is faithful to us. He will never leave us nor forsake us, either, and He will be faithful always to us just as He was to Moses, to Jacob, to Isaac, to Abraham, to Noah, and so on down the line. It is only when we forget him that our relationship begins to slip; He does not every forget us.

“Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” (1:8, NIV)

I love this passage of scripture. Sometimes, when I’m feeling particularly weak, I like to carry my Bible with me wherever I go. Not to be seen by others, in fact most others rarely know I have it with me, but just to know it is there with me (even though it’s pretty huge, as discussed on Day 80). I may never open it on these days when I carry it with me all the time, but at least it’s there in case I need to find some words of strength in the Word of the Lord.

He speaks to us in so many ways, though. He speaks to us through our prayers with Him, or through the praise and worship music we crank up while driving down the road, or through a kind email from a friend at just the right time. We are instructed again and again throughout the Bible to never let Him get far from our hearts or our minds, so that we will be in constant communion with Him, our Lord and our Redeemer. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

I love to watch all of the wonderful ways the Lord works in our lives constantly. Just as the people reported to Joshua after they scoped out the land the Lord promised them and found that He was faithful to His promises, we watch the Lord make our enemies crumble and hurdles in our lives overcome by faith alone. They said to Joshua, “The Lord has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us.” (2:24, NIV)

When the Lord works and wants everyone to know, without a shadow of a doubt that He is Lord Almighty, He does it up BIG:

So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of Arabah (the Salt Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground. (3:14-17, NIV)

And the priests came up out of the river carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord. No sooner had they set their feet back on the dry ground than the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and ran at flood stage as before. (4:18, NIV)

Isn’t that glorious?! It is mentioned twice that they stood and crossed on dry ground. The water did not just stop flowing for a time being, He completely dried the ground, the river bed of the Jordan River, so that His chosen people could cross and not stumble, not fall, and not sink into the mud. Wouldn’t that have been an amazing feat to experience? Don’t you wonder sometimes how the Israelites could have possibly reacted against God time and time again when they got to experience His works like this?

That day the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they revered him all the days of his life, just as they had revered Moses. (4:14, NIV)

In what seems to be his first act of leadership after crossing the Jordan, Joshua spoke to the people of Israel, saying, “The Lord your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.” (4:23-24, NIV)

Do you know what always gets me about these fantastic signs and miraculous acts the Lord works in each of our lives? He knows us. He knows that even with all He has done and continues to do in our lives, He knows that we will fall again, maybe just a stumble or maybe we’ll fight right on our faces and take years to recover, but we will fall nonetheless. Yet, He does these things in our lives anyway. He works from love.

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

Day 83 reading: Joshua, chapters 5-8

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Bible in a Year-Chronological Study, Blessings, Faith, Joshua, Seeing God, Trust

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81) I Put My Life in His Almighty Hands

Today we get to venture into the song that Moses taught the Israelites before they continued on to the Promised Land without him at the helm.

Day 81 reading: Deuteronomy, chapters 32-34, and Psalms, chapter 91

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “Now therefore, write this song for yourselves, and teach it to the sons of Israel; put it on their lips, so that this song may be a witness for Me against the sons of Israel. For when I bring them into the land flowing with milk and honey, which I swore to their fathers, and they have eaten and are satisfied and become prosperous, then they will turn to other gods and serve them, and spurn Me and break My covenant. Then it shall come about, when many evils and troubles have come upon the, that this song will testify before them as a witness (for it shall not be forgotten from the lips of their descendants); for I know their intent which they are developing today, before I have brought them into the land which I swore.”

So Moses wrote this song the same day, and taught it to the sons of Israel. (31:19-22, NASB)

THE SONG OF MOSES

There’s so much included in the Song of Moses, but what really stood out to me were the times it felt like Moses was singing right into my heart.

I will proclaim the name of the Lord. Oh, praise the greatness of our God! He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he. (32:3-4, NIV)

Is this the way you repay the Lord, O foolish and unwise people? Is he not your Father, your Creator, who made you and formed you? (32:6, NIV)

How could one man chase a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the Lord had given them up? For their rock is not like our Rock, as even our enemies concede. (32:30-31, NIV)

See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal; neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand. For I lift up my had to heaven, and say, I live for ever. (32:39-40, KJV)

There’s so much to that song, so much depth, so much life. I would absolutely have loved to hear it with a tune, which would help the children of Israel remember it better and recite it again and again in song.

When Moses finished reciting all these words to all Israel, he declared to them, “Take heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you–they are your life.” (32:45-47, NIV)

This year-long chronological study is not just idle words, either, it’s a matter of life for us, as well.

MOSES BLESSES THE TRIBES

Reuben: Let Reuben live and not die, nor his men be few. (33:6, NIV)

Judah: With his own hands he defends his cause. Oh, be his help against his foes! (33:7, NIV)

Levi: Bless all his skills, O Lord, and be pleased with the work of his hands. (33:11, NIV)

Benjamin: Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long. (33:12, NIV)

Joseph: Let all these rest on he head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince among his brothers. (33:16, NIV)

Zebulun: They will summon peoples to the mountain and there offer sacrifices of righteousness; they will feast on the abundance of the seas, on the treasures hidden in the sand. (33:19, NIV)

Gad: When the heads of the people assembled, he carried out the Lord’s righteous will, and his judgments concerning Israel. (33:21, NIV)

Dan: Dan is a lion’s cub. (33:22, NIV)

Naphtali: Abounding with the favor of the Lord and is full of his blessing. (33:23, NIV)

Asher: Most blessed of sons is Asher; let him be favored by his brothers, and let him bathe his feet in oil. (33:24, NIV)

THE DEATH OF MOSES

And now, as I have said before, after all that Moses has obeyed and all that he has done through the power of the Lord, though his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone (34:7, NIV) the Lord called Moses home without crossing over into the Promised Land. This seems to me such a bitter sweet end to Moses’ life, but I’m sure that in his dutifulness Moses didn’t mind and understood better than any other man in history ever could have.

And Moses the servant of the Lord died there in Moab, as the Lord had said. He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is. (34:5-6, NIV)

Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the Lord had commanded Moses. (34:9, NIV)

And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, in all the signs and the wonders, which the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land, and in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses showed in the sight of all Israel. (34:10-12, KJV)

What a beautiful end to such an obedient leader.

Now, we come to this beautiful passage in Psalms, chapter 91. This chapter is especially close to my heart this week as just a few days ago, while travelling, I was invited to church with a sweet friend of mine and her family. I was so glad to go, not only because the church service was as lovely as the company, but because severe weather had kept so many at home that day that if it weren’t for our presence in the building, the congregation may not have even entered into the double-digits. This would have been a real shame as the pastor was such a nice speaker, the praise music upbeat and powerful, and the entire morning absolutely blessed. In the course of this service, we read this chapter from Psalm aloud and it resonated with me even more, because I knew you and I would be studying it together now. I am going to include the entire Psalm herein, in the same translation (I think) that we read aloud in that little church. It’s beautiful and especially poignant on the heels of the previous reading of Moses’ last days.

He who dwells in the shelter of the most High

Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,

My God, in whom I trust!”

For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper

And from the deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with His pinions,

And under His wings you may seek refuge;

His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.

You will not be afraid of the terror by night,

Or of the arrow that flies by day;

Of the Pestilence that stalks in darkness,

Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.

Of of the destruction that lays waste at noon.

A thousand may fall at your side

And ten thousand at you right hand,

But it shall not approach you.

You will only look on with your eyes

And see the recompense of the wicked.

For you have made the Lord, my refuge,

Even the Most High, your dwelling place.

No evil will befall you,

Nor will any plague come near your tent.

For He will give His angels charge concerning you,

To guard you in all your ways.

They will bear you up in their hands,

That you do not strike your foot against a stone.

You will tread upon the lion and cobra,

The young lion and the serpent you will trample down.

“Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him;

I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.”

“He will call upon Me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble;

I will rescue him and honor him.”

“With a long life I will satisfy him

And let him see My salvation.” (NASB)

Isn’t that just stunning imagery? Now, hear your voice added to a church of believers reading that passage in unison, and imagine who wonderful the Glory of God was working that day in my life.

Because I put my human life in His Almighty hands:

He will be forever my refuge and my fortress
He will be my most trustworthy companion
I will be protected and shielded from evil at every corner
I will not be afraid, I have no reason to fear
Evil cannot even get close to me, cannot break through His barrier
I will watch the wicked fall and pay for their evil ways
I not only have Him as a shield against evil, but He also sends His angels, my guardian angels, to protect me along every step of my journey
Because I love Him, He will deliver me
Because I know His name, He has a place for me in heaven
When I call on Him, He will answer my call
He is with me in times of trouble
I will see salvation!

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

Day 82 reading: Joshua, chapters 1-4

Category:

Bible in a Year-Chronological Study, Blessings, Deuteronomy, Eternity, Faith, Psalms, Trust

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80) Be Strong, Courageous, and Firm

I don’t know if it’s just me or if today’s reading is really just that good, but it is really just that good! I think it’s especially refreshing on the heels of all of the curses we read through together yesterday. Whew. We’ve come out on the other side, rejuvenated, refreshed, and ready to face Day 80 head-on.

Today’s scripture passage: Deuteronomy, chapters 30-31

I want to begin with sharing one of the perks of the Bible my family gave me for my birthday several years ago. It’s a parallel Bible with four different translations included. I do get some jokes from people when I carry it to church because it’s soooo thick; My favorite joke was when I was asked if it was the “Unabridged” version So clever!

Anyhoo… The opening verses of today’s scripture reading absolutely hit me as so beautiful and moving and breathtaking that I wanted to share it in all four translations that my Bible has to offer. Enjoy:

And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath driven thee, and shalt return unto the Lord thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with ll thine heart, and with all thy soul; that then the Lord thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath scattered the. (30:1-3, KJV)

And when all these things have come upon you the blessings and the curses which I have set before you, and you shall call them to mind among all the nations where the Lord your God has driven you, and shall return to the Lord your God and obey His voice according to all that I command you today, you and your children, with all your mind and heart and with all your being, then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion upon you and will gather you again from all the nations where He has scattered you. (30:1-3, Amplified)

So it shall be when all of these things have come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you call them to mind in all nations where the Lord your God has banished you, and you return to the Lord your God and obey Him with all your heart an soul according to all that I command you today, you and your sons, then the Lord your God will restore you from captivity, and have compassion on you, and will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you. (30:1-3, NASB)

And my personal favorite translation of this particular passage:

When all these blessings and curses I have set before you come upon you and you take them to heart wherever the Lord your God dispenses you among the nations, and when you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you. (30:1-3, NIV)

Aren’t those three verses lovely? Like I said, it may just be me, but I am absolutely raw and open to these words this morning.

Whenever I take the Word of God to heart, and I share it with my friends and family members, He will restore my soul to eternity and fill me with His love and grace. (my paraphrase)

My friends, that’s what I want, not only for myself but for you and yours, as well.

The Lord your God will circumcise you hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live. (30:6, NIV)

Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice and hold fast to him. (30: 19-20, NIV)

I want God to circumcise my heart, to expose me afresh, and give my soul a new anointing, so that I may live only for Him.

Here’s the truth: But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your mind and in your heart, so that you can do it. (30:14, Amplified)

His Presence is here with us. His Word is living and breathing in us. We know what to do, now we have to go out and do it.

Be strong, courageous, and firm; fear not nor be in terror before them, for it is the Lord your God Who goes with you; He will not fail you or forsake you. (31:6, Amplified)

I preferred the Amplified version of that particular verse because it not only told us to be strong and courageous, but also to be firm. Let us stand together, linked arm-in-arm against the enemy for he is real but he knows that the Lord our God is very real, as well, and the enemy is scared…he just puts on a brave face. Do not be fooled. Do not be weakened or grow weary. It’s going to be a long, hard fight, but we are up for the challenge. In the end, it is all so worth the effort.

Did anyone else reach the end of today’s scripture passage and want so badly to continue reading? I did! I look so forward to Moses’ song in our reading for Day 81 of our journey.

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

Day 81 reading: Deuteronomy, chapters 32-34 & Psalms, chapter 91

Category:

Bible in a Year-Chronological Study, Blessings, Deuteronomy, Faith, Perseverance, Seeing God

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73) Master Inventor

Day 73 reading: Deuteronomy, chapters 8-10

Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land that the Lord promised on oath to your forefathers. (8:1, NIV)

It’s so easy sometimes to pick and choose the rules we’re going to follow. This is true for me in everyday life (that 30 mph speed limit really allows me to go 36), at work (I’m supposed to be there every morning at 8 a.m., but sometimes it may be 8:06 or 8:12 before I rush through the door), and even during family time (OK, I’m ready for this game of Clue to be over, it was Miss Scarlet in the Conservatory with the lead pipe…I win).

The mighty ten commandments are certainly no different in their ease to be bent by our human desires. I wouldn’t go out and rob someone with better material things than me, but I have to admit that sometimes there are friends who have been so richly blessed with their beautiful homes and cars and vacations that I feel a little jealousy welling up inside.

When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord you God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. (8:10-14, NIV)

Or times when I’m so frustrated with my father over a work issue or decision that I forget that I’m supposed to honor him, no matter what. I wouldn’t murder anyone, but did that little white lie I told yesterday afternoon really make a difference? Sometimes it’s easy to classify our sins as “really bad,” “normal,” or even “minor” sins, instead of seeing them all the same, as the Lord sees them.

He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. (8:3, NIV)

This journey is feeding us in ways we may have never thought of before. Through every day of reading and contemplation, He is feeding our souls and our minds, and keeping our hearts in His tender care.

But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who give you the ability to produce wealth. (8:18, NIV)

I can’t tell you how much I love that short piece of verse 18, it’s wonderful. I have a little saying that sometimes I utilize too much. No matter what the issue is, this little saying applies.

“That’s why God invented… plastic.”

“That’s why God invented… the center turning lane.”

“That’s why God invented… the service industry.”

“That’s why God invented… dish washers.”

You name it, God invented it. Period.

This is the most beautiful closing I believe I have ever heard, and it applies to you and I today just as it did for the Israelites long ago:

And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your souls, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?

To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it. Yet the Lord set his affection on your forefathers and loved them, and he chose you, their descendants, above all the nations, as it is today. Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer. For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing. And you are to love those who are aliens, for you yourselves were aliens in Egypt. Fear the Lord your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name. He is your praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes. Your forefathers who went down into Egypt were seventy in all, and now the Lord your God has made you as numerous as the stars in the sky. (10:12-22, NIV)

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

Day 74 reading: Deuteronomy, chapters 11-13

Category:

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

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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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71) For the Lord your God is a compassionate God

“You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I commanded you.” (Deuteronomy 4:2, NASB)

Day 71 reading: Deuteronomy, chapters 3-4

Moses is still speaking to the Israelites:

“I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, ‘Your eyes have seen all that the Lord your God has done to these two kings; so the Lord shall do to all the kingdoms into which you are about to cross. Do not fear them, for the Lord your God is the one fighting for you.’” (3:21-22, NASB)

He is fighting for us, too. We are His people, too. He is dwelling with us, too. Our eyes have seen His great works in our own lives, too! It’s amazing to me how distant the Bible can seem at times, when really, it’s a retelling of our own lives each day.

“Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons.” (4:9, NASB)

He deserves our due diligence. Our sons and daughters, grandsons and granddaughters and all the family to follow down the line, deserve to know Him and all that He has done in the lives of our families and our world.

This part about the Word and commandments and instructions not departing from the heart strikes home with me. Have you noticed that certain verses from our daily reading have stuck with you throughout the day? Have you gotten in a bind at some point along our journey and recalled a lesson we have learned together that was just perfect for that situation? I have. I have seen the hand of God working through this chronological study several times already in our 71 days.

“But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul.” (4:29, NASB)

When we need Him, He is already several steps ahead of us. He knows our needs, and He fulfills them.

“For the Lord your God is a compassionate God; He will not fail you nor destroy you nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them.” (4:31, NASB)

Even if our own human fathers and mothers didn’t wander around the desert for 40 years with Moses, we are His children and He made a covenant with our fathers, and father’s fathers as well. He protects those who serve Him and remember Him and put Him at the forefront of our minds, daily, just as He keeps us forever at the top of His list.

“Know therefore today, and take it to your heart, that the Lord, He is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other.” (4:39, NASB)

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

Tomorrow’s scripture reading: Deuteronomy, chapters 5-7

Category:

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

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70) He Will Fight For You

Day 70 reading: Deuteronomy, chapters 1-2

The book of Deuteronomy will be a bit familiar to us by now, but in real-time, there has been the passing of 40 years as the Israelites have journeyed out of Egypt and toward the Promised Land. So, I can certainly understand the need for repetition (there are days I don’t remember something important from five minutes before). I think it will also serve as a nice refresher course for us, especially in the areas when we (I) might have glazed over at times through Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers. But the critical points within the book of Deuteronomy will be lifted up to helps us all remember.

“See, I have placed the land before you; go in an possess the land which the Lord swore to give to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to them and their descendants after them.” (1:8, NASB)

The NIV says to go in and take possession. I love this. It’s like you and I telling one another to just own it, just do it, or dig your heels in.

Our Lord, the same Lord of the Israelites and of Moses, has given us plenty, an overabundance, all we have to do is go in and take possession. What areas of our lives do we still not truly “own” in Him? What areas have we not given up in our human, worldly ways, and therefore cannot take possession of through Him? He has given us so much, every breath, every grain of sand, every star, every raindrop, every flower and tree and blade of grass, every bite of food and the ability for our bodies to digest the food perfectly. Go in and take possession.

“Then I said to you, ‘Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the desert…In spite of this, you did not trust in the Lord your God.” (1:29-30, 32, NIV)

It is so easy to praise God when He saves us from ourselves and from danger around us. It is so easy to pray when we need help or there is illness and evil coming at us from every angle. But even when we see His works in our own lives, first hand, time passes and we have tendencies to forget and we have tendencies to complain and want and seek satisfaction elsewhere.

But He tells us through His Word not to fear, that He is with us. Go and take what He has given to us. Own it. Don’t keep living the same pattern in your own lives as I am working on correcting in my own life. I want to go strong on God’s path for the rest of my worldly life, not waver, not get on the path then fall off the path after a few months, just to scrape my knees up and remember Him and climb back on the path over and over and over again. Let us all together stay strong in Him, grown continually through Him, and deepen our relationship with Him.

The Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast desert. (2:7, NIV)

He is here with me now. He is there with you, dwelling in you, as you read this post and study along with me. He is with the person in the office next to yours at your job, and the person in the car next to yours driving down the road. He is with us as He always has been and will continue to be. Some of us are in the middle of vast deserts in our lives, but please be aware that He is there with you. He IS there with YOU!

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

Day 71 reading: Deuteronomy, chapters 3-4

Category:

Bible in a Year-Chronological Study, Deuteronomy, Faith, Perseverance, Seeing God, Trust

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63) The Roller Coaster of Trust

Today’s scripture passage cuts painfully close for me. I never realized I would see myself in the book of Numbers, but there I was this morning, right there on the pages of the Living Word of God.

Day 63 reading: Numbers, chapters 21-22

Then Israel made this vow to the Lord: “If you will deliver these people into our hands, we will totally destroy their cities.” The Lord listened to Israel’s plea and gave the Canaanites over to them. (21:2-3, NIV)

So, once again, God saves the day in a big way. I feel like I’m on a roller coaster ride with the Israelites at the helm, but I’m sure that’s how my own life will feel in retrospect, too.

But the people grew impatient on the way; they spoke against God and against Moses (21:4-5, NIV).

Again? And again…and again…and again. Why do the Israelites keep forgetting that He’s the real deal. Why do they only call out to Him when they need His miracles and then throw Him by the wayside when they are bored?

Aren’t we just as bad about that? I hope none of you reading this can relate to this, but I know my own walk tends to vacillate at times, too. You know, one minute you’re praising God and high as a kite on Him alone, then the next moment your child walks in the door with a bad report card and all of your praising goes out the window. Or you have a car wreck and although you are thankful to still be alive, you’re cursing the woman who broadsided you because she was talking on the phone, putting on lipstick and had a dog in her lap…all while attempting to drive.

Things happen in our very human lives that render very human responses; and I believe that God understands that completely. He knows what is in our hearts. He knows that He is in our hearts. So having very human moments in our day to days will not tear us from our Lord, but speaking out against Him over and over again as the Israelites are doing obviously took it’s toll on the relationship between the two.

Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. (21:6, NIV)

So Moses prayed for the people.

The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” (21:8, NIV)

Again, the Lord gives His people an “out.” Just think of the scripture passages from just the past few days when the Israelites watched as the earth opened up and swallowed so many of their people whole, then were consumed by Holy fire, then a plague wiped out a number of them. So many watched their fellow comrades die on the spot because of their attitudes toward the Lord, yet here they were again, speaking out against Him; And here He is again saving them and proving His Presence with them.

And is it just me or was Moses almost as forgiving as the Lord Himself? Always praying for the people even after they rebuke him and speak against him? He has a supernatural tolerance for the people, because of what God had done in his life.

The Lord said to Moses, “Gather the people together and I will give them water.” (21:16, NIV)

He always provides for our needs. Always.

Then the people when on and won another battle and occupied more land, just as the Lord always said they would. And even in their fear, the Lord spoke to Moses to cover them.

The Lord said to Moses, “Do not be afraid of [Og king of Bashan and his whole army], for I have handed him over to you, with his whole army and his land.” (21:34, NIV)

When God is for us, when God is leading us, when we take God by the hand and follow Him and the path He has laid out for our lives, who can possibly stand against us? Hear this: NO ONE.

“A people has come out of Egypt; they cover the face of the land and have settled next to me.” (22:5, NIV)

Recall this passage from Day 16 of our journey:

The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse.” (Genesis 12: 1-3, NIV)

Then, we meet Balaam (and myself face-to-face in the mirror of the Living Word of God):

But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed.” (22:12, NIV)

But Balaam answered [Balek and the other princes], “Even if Balek gave me his palace filled with silver and gold, I could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the Lord my God.” (22:18, NIV)

Are those ever words to live your life by. Only God gives me strength to do all that I do.

That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you.”

Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab. But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the Lord stood in the road to oppose him.

When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the road into a field.

When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it.

When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat her with a staff.

Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?”( 22:20-22, 23, 25, 27-28, NIV)

I have a confession to make. I uses to write my blog postings at night. It’s my most creative time and the juices are flowing. The problem with this is that then I stay up far later than I should and don’t end up getting enough rest at night. How many of you know that alarm clock or children pounding down the hallway come at the same time every morning no matter how much or how little sleep you get? So, my answer to this issue was that I would start going to bed earlier and waking up earlier, too. But at least by studying and writing early in the morning, I have a set time and a set schedule to keep me on track. The key there is that I can’t sleep through my alarm clock…

At night I pray that the Lord wake me up as early as I need to be woken up in order to read and write on the next day’s scripture passage, and this morning as I was set to get up and read, my alarm was set for 5:00 a.m., but my Lord work me up at 4:21 the first time. Note: the first time. Some mornings, I can’t seem to help having mental bargaining going on in my head with God. Me bargaining with God. Really? I’m as bad as the Israelites! So, this morning I slept through His 5:21 wake-up call, then His 4:28 wake-up call, then His 4:33 wake-up call, and on they went until I finally responded.

Friends, I don’t know if that makes me more like Balaam or more like the donkey in today’s passage, but let me tell you that when I finally got out of bed and into the Word, I was struck down by this last portion of scripture.

Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown. (22:31, NIV)

Doesn’t life go smoother (at 4:21 a.m. or any other time of the day or night) when we follow the path He sets for us. When we ask for His Mighty Hand to save the day (or wake us up), doesn’t it work out better when we follow His path, step-for-step? Friends, I have to tell you, I don’t want to be like the Israelites on their roller coaster ride. I want to live a life of smooth sailing, following God close on His heels, never distracted from the world, but always facing Him for guidance, then actually DOING WHAT HE SAYS TO DO.

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

Day 64 reading: Numbers, chapters 23-25

Category:

Bible in a Year-Chronological Study, Faith, Forgiveness, Numbers, Perseverance, Quiet time, Rules worth LIVING by, Seeing God, Trust

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62) When we GIVE our best, we RECEIVE His best

Day 62 reading: Numbers, chapters 18-20

“Say to the Levites: ‘When you present the best part, it will be reckoned to you as the product of the threshing floor or the winepress.’” (18:30, NIV)

When we give our best, we receive His best.

Friends, it’s no wonder that the Lord got frustrated with the Israelites and I’m sure gets frustrated with me, daily, as well. Isn’t it maddening to even read the account of the Israelite’s refusal to follow His instructions? But don’t we do the same? Unfortunately so.

Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron. They quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the Lord!” (20:2-3, NIV)

Really?

Again?

Not only are you complaining AGAIN after all you have seen and LIVED THROUGH, but you’re going to keep COMPLAINING?!?!!?

Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them. (20:6, NIV)

So Moses took the staff from the Lord’s presence, just as he commanded him. He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?”

Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank. (20:9-11, NIV)

As obvious as this point is, I must make it: This is the Word of God. This is our guidebook. He dwells in each of us and speaks to each of us in His own way, but we must listen and obey. Listen AND obey.

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

Day 63 reading: Numbers, 21-22

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Bible in a Year-Chronological Study, Blessings, Numbers, Perseverance, Rules worth LIVING by, Seeing God, Trust

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61) “Separate Yourselves from the Assembly”

Today’s scripture reading is interesting in kind of a put-you-in-your-place kind of way…

Day 61 reading: Numbers, chapters 16-17

Right off the bat, we’ve got the people rising up in revolt against Moses. (16:2). They had seen with their own eyes the Spirit of the Lord coming on Moses on numerous occasions, yet they rose up against him. They had been led and directed by God through Moses for years, through fears, and throughout their journey into safety, yet they rose up against him. That’s almost more than I can wrap my head around. I cannot imagine seeing all that the Israelites had seen, all of the works and awesome, supernatural happenings the Lord had shown them, yet turning against Moses, the Lord’s chosen leader.

When Moses heard this, he fell facedown. Then he said to Korah and all his followers: “In the morning the Lord will show who belongs to him and who is holy, and he will have that person come near him.” (16:4-5, NIV)

Don’t you know everyone’s heart jumped when Moses said those words? I know mine sure would have!

Moses also said to Korah, “Now listen, you Levites! Isn’t it enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the Israelite community and brought you near himself to do the work at the Lord’s tabernacle and to stand before the community and minister to them? He has brought you and all your fellow Levites near himself, but now you are trying to get the priesthood too.” (16:9-11, NIV)

Don’t we just do that, though? Isn’t that just human nature? Give us an inch and we’ll take a mile. Free us from slavery and we want to go back. Feed us healthy, nourishing food every day, and we still want more, better, different. Bless us with the gift of serving Him in a special way, and we want to be the head honcho!

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Separate yourselves from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once.” (16:20-21, NIV)

More panic! By now, after the 60 days that preceded this one, that when God tells everyone to stand back, He’s about to do something BIG. And then it happens:

“But if the Lord brings about something totally new and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them, with everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the grave, then you will know that these men have treated the Lord with contempt.”

As soon as he finished saying all this, the ground under them split apart and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, with their households and all Korah’s men and all their possessions.(16:30-32, NIV)

And fire came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men who were offering incense. (16:35, NIV)

But 14,700 people died from the plague, in addition to those who had died because of Korah.

Does He know how to drive a point home, or what?

Friends, let’s not be so proud and mule-headed that God has to literally open up the ground and swallow us whole, alive, and kicking. I know you’re there, too. We’re all saying a big “Amen” together.

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

Day 62 reading: Numbers, chapters 18-20

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Bible in a Year-Chronological Study, Numbers, Rules worth LIVING by, Seeing God

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60) Resisting the Israelite Mindset

Today’s an exciting day! We visit two books for today’s reading: Numbers, chapters 14-15 and Psalms, chapter 90

“Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?”

How often do we think just that kind of thought about our old lives, the lives before we dedicated them to Him?

The thoughts and selective memories can be like an old, worn out recording, playing over and over in our heads:

Wasn’t life easier back then?
Wouldn’t life have been better if I’d have married him, and not him.
Wasn’t life happier when I still had all of those credit cards and could buy anything I wanted as long as I still had some credit left?
Wouldn’t it be more fun if I still did that, instead of this?
Wasn’t life more fun when I was still drinking…heavily…daily?
Wasn’t life more carefree when I was hanging out with my buddies, getting high, and just passing the time?

Any of these sound familiar? Everyone has their own set of “What If’s.” Everyone has their own set of Israelite Mindsets.

Then, we were delivered, gave ourselves over to His will for our lives and now look at us: having to actually do stuff to lift Him up, having to make higher-caliber friends that don’t let us swim in our addictions or strongholds, having to make the most our of our lives. Bummer?

“The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord.” (4:7-9, NIV)

Friends, let us not moan and groan when things get tough. As long as we are in His service there is an exceedingly good life ahead!

The Lord said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the miraculous signs I have performed among them?” (14:11, NIV)

God already knew the answer. He already knew what was in store. He knew since before He created the world. He knew each of us before time began and He knows how we will respond. But He also loves us and created us in His image to do His will and live fruitful lives. He works miraculous signs in our lives each and every day. If we’re not catching them, we may have our focus in the wrong place.

“Now may the Lord’s strength be displayed, just as you have declared: ‘The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.’ In accordance with your great love, forgive the sin of these people, just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now.” (14:17-19, NIV)

Let us ask the same of our Lord. Let us thank Him for being slow to anger and abounding in love for each of us. I thank Him for punishing me for my wrong doings, for just as a parent who punishes their own children, it is for the child’s own well-being and future’s sake.

“Your children will be shepherds here for forty years, suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the desert.” (14:33, NIV)

He punishes to the third and fourth generation, and He blesses, as well. I look into the eyes of my own sweet children, imagining the generations to come, and know that I am responsible for their blessings. I am responsible for making their lives as full of blessing as I can, as they will be for the generations to come after them.

The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the Lord, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by going after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes. Then you will remember to obey all y commands and will be consecrated to your God. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the Lord your God.’” (15:37-41, NIV)

What reminders do we have each and every day that remind us of our blessed life in Him? This question brings us to Psalms 90, A prayer of Moses the man of God:

Lord, you have been in our dwelling place throughout the generations.

Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

You turn men back to dust, saying, “Return to dust, O sons of men.”

For a thousand yours in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.

You sweep men away in the sleep of death; they are like the new grass of the morning–

though in the morning it springs up new, by evening it is dry and withered.

We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation.

You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.

All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan.

The lengths of our days is seventy years–or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.

Who knows the power of your anger? For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you.

Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Relent, O Lord! How long will it be? Have compassion on your servants.

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble.

May your deeds e shown in your servants, your splendor to their children.

May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us–yes, establish the work of your hands.

It’s not always the easy route to rest our faith on Him, and to resist that Isrealite Mindset while roaming through the desert, but that’s why I’m so thankful that we have each other. I’m so thankful we have friends and family who can help lift us when we’re down. That’s why we must surround ourselves continually with people whose presence in our lives remind us that there are better things ahead than what we’ve left behind. We’re on this road to Him together–just hang on.

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

Day 61 reading: Numbers, chapters 16-17

Category:

Bible in a Year-Chronological Study, Faith, Numbers, Perseverance, Psalms

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59) Ever Thankful = Ever Humble

Do you ever find yourself just plain ungrateful for what you have?

Grousing about what you don’t have or what you wish you had?

Not seeing all that you do have in your life?

You’re not the only one!

Day 59 reading: Numbers, chapters 11-13

Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the Lord, and when he heard them his anger was aroused. (11:1, NIV)

How can we complain about all that we lack when all that we already have comes from Him?

The rabble who were among them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, “If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost–also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!” (11:4-6, NIV)

Now, granted, 40 years of manna would get old. But the Israelites had selective memory. They forgot that they were slaves to the Egyptians who fed them. At no cost? At the price of their dignity!

I have a note in my bible next to this passage that reads: Selective memory kills current successes and action.

When I look back on my memories, I don’t want to only remember the good, but I want to remember the real, the struggles, the hardships, the lessons learned. This is why I keep coming back to the Word, every day, to remind myself what my life was like before I truly dedicated my life to Him, and remember that I don’t want to turn back to my old ways. I will not allow myself to have selective memory.

“Now the Lord will give you meat, and you will eat it. You will not eat it for just one day, or two days, or five, ten or twenty days, but for a whole month–until it comes out of your nostrils and you loathe it–because you have rejected the Lord, who is among you, and have wailed before him, saying, ‘Why did we ever leave Egypt?’” (11:18-20, NIV)

When we are ungrateful to Him, it tends to turn around and bite us, doesn’t it? I can think of too many instances when I thought I really wanted something or someone and I begged and pleaded, and eventually got exactly what I asked for and realized why it wasn’t mine to begin with.

Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth. (12:3, NIV)

I believe humility is among the first steps we must take in our walk with our Lord. When we humble ourselves before Him and before others in His name, we show our thankfulness for all that we have been given.

When we are doubtful of our calling to walk with God, or when we are challenged and scared, remember the words of Caleb: “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.” (13:30, NIV)

He knew as we should know that God is able! When He sends us to do something, to act, to move, He will not let us fall unless that is all part of the greater plan He has in store for us. When we humble ourselves to follow His path for our lives, He will show us the way, give us a road map, and we will know with all certainty that we cannot fail.

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

Day 60 reading: Numbers, chapters 14-15 and Psalms 90

Category:

Bible in a Year-Chronological Study, Blessings, Gifts & Talents, Numbers, Perseverance, Service, Trust

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58) Blueprint for life

Don’t you just ever step back from some mistake you’ve just made and wish like crazy that you had a blueprint for your life? Well, you do! It’s here! We’re studying it…together…daily. So, let’s keep up the good work and not let set-backs or schedules or life or missed deadlines hold us back from The Plan. God’s Plan.

Day 58 reading: Numbers, chapters 8-10

The lampstand was made exactly like the pattern the Lord had shown Moses. (8:4, NIV)

The Lord gave the Israelites a blueprint to their lives, an extremely detailed plan to live by, and He gives the same to each of us every time we open up His Word and reveal His truths for our lives.

At the Lord’s command they encamped, and at the Lord’s command they set out. (9:23, NIV)

Are there times when God’s Plan is telling me to move, act, react, and I don’t listen? Are there times when all of us are so afraid of that next step that we just can’t seem to move one foot, one step? What stops us from moving forward with Him? What keeps us from our time with Him? What in this world could possibly be more important, more critical, than our future in the eternal world? We feel inadequate. We feel distracted. We feel unworthy.

But if a man who is ceremonially clean and not on a journey fails to celebrate the Passover, that person must be cut off from his people because he did not present the Lord’s offering at the appointed time. (9:13, NIV)

Friends, let me tell you that this is my greatest fear: that I am able-bodied and able-minded to do the will of God to the letter, but I don’t. When we are able to act on His calling for our earthly lives but do not offer ourselves up to Him. When we don’t take that step in faith toward Him.

“Rise up, O Lord! May your enemies be scattered; may you foes flee before you.” (10:35, NIV)

I think that sometimes we all feel alone. We are surrounded by people every day but are all alone. We are better connected today than we or any previous generation ever has been, yet we are still alone. Let me tell you, this, though: YOU are NOT alone. I am here. There are others here that are sharing this journey. Maybe friends are joining in this chronological reading as I write it, or maybe it’s years down the road. But we are not alone on this journey.

Humor me if you will. In the comments section below, please respond to this post. Please include

your name (first, last, a username, or nickname–whatever you feel comfortable sharing)
your age range (i.e.: 20′s, 30′s, 40′s, 50′s, etc.)
and the region in which you live (you can be specific with the city, or general with the state, etc.)

I want each of us to realize that we are not alone. I am NOT alone. YOU are NOT alone.

Thank you, friends.

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

Day 59 reading: Numbers, chapters 11-13

Category:

Bible in a Year-Chronological Study, Blessings, Faith, Numbers, Perseverance, Rules worth LIVING by, Seeing God

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55) The Levites & their Service

Day 55 reading: Numbers, chapters 3-4

I just want to jump right in because today’s scripture passage is so interesting to me, especially on the heels of our Day 54 passage.

Yesterday, the Levites were excluded from the census…but that was a census of those males 20 years old or older for use in the Israelite army. That delineation of “army” just caught me today as I was reading. The Levites weren’t being excluded yesterday, but being saved for the most critical of jobs in God’s realm of delegating work. Yes, I knew that Moses and Aaron descended from the Levite tribe, but that didn’t register yesterday like it has today.

The Lord said to Moses, “Bring the tribe of Levi and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him. They are to perform duties for him and for the whole community at the Tent of Meeting by doing the work of the tabernacle. They are to take care of all the furnishings of the Tent of Meeting, fulfilling the obligations of the Israelites by doing the work of the tabernacle. Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to him.” (3:5-9, NIV)

“The Levites are mine, for all the firstborn are mine.” (3:12-13, NIV)

Would you rather serve in God’s army or as one of His priests?

The Lord said to Moses in the Desert of Sinai, “Count the Levites by their families and clans. Count every male a month old or more.” (3:14-15, NIV)

This point alone speaks volumes to me: yesterday’s census was of males 20 years old or older to serve in the Israelite army; today’s census is of males only one month old or older to serve, preserve, and care for the holy tabernacle.

These were the names of the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari.

These were the names o the Gershonite clans: Libni and Shimei.

The Kohathite clans: Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.

The Merarite clans: Mahli and Mushi. (3:17-20, NIV)

The total number of Levites counted at the Lord’s command by Moses and Aaron according to their clans, including every male a month old or more, was 22,000. (3:39, NIV)

THE GERSHONITE CLAN

Numbers 7,500 males one month old and older

Numbers 2,630 males aged 30-50 years old

The leader of the families of the Gershonites was Eliasaph son of Lael. (3:24, NIV)

THE MERARITE CLAN

Numbers 6,200 males one month and older

Numbers 3,200 males aged 30-50 years old

The leader of the families of the Merarite clans was Zuriel son of Abihail. (3:35, NIV)

THE KOHATHITE CLAN (The clan which Moses & Aaron descended from)

Numbers 8,600 males one month old and older

Numbers 2,750 males aged 30-50 years old

The leader of the families of the Kohathite clans was Elizaphan son of Uzziel. (3:30, NIV)

The chief leader of the Levites was Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest. (3:32, NIV)

The Levites were given jobs within the Tent of Meeting, and specific jobs were given to those men ages 30-50. I love this because I can’t think of a more able-bodied age than that age range. Sure, 20 year olds are strong, but really aren’t usually as careful as they “should” be. And 60 year olds have wisdom but maybe after a lifetime of hard labor their bodies weren’t as steady as they once were. The 30-50 age range would ensure able bodies and even minds to handle the most precious of the Lord’s earthly possessions.

At the Lord’s command through Moses, each [male of the Levite tribe aged 30-50 years old] was assigned his work and told what to carry. (4:49, NIV)

The descendants of Abraham are the Lord’s people.

More specifically, the descendants of Abraham through Isaac are the Lord’s people.

Actually, the descendants of Jacob through Isaac and Abraham are the Lord’s people.

But to be the Lord’s chosen people, descended from the Kohath clan, through the Tribe of Levi, through Jacob/Israel, through Isaac, through Abraham–now there’s a family tree!

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

Day 56 reading: Numbers, chapters 5-6

Category:

Bible in a Year-Chronological Study, Blessings, Children, Faith, Genesis, Numbers, Seeing God, Service

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52) Rest from the World

Today’s reading is such a beautiful continuation of yesterday’s passage, and my focus on the repetition of I AM THE LORD, let us pick up right where we left off.

Day 52 reading: Leviticus, chapters 24-25

By the end of yesterday’s scripture passage, couldn’t you just hear our Creator’s voice booming, “I AM THE LORD.” I know I could!

So, on the heels of that, we have the first portion of today’s scripture passage:

And the Israelite woman’s son blasphemed the name of the Lord and cursed; and so they brought him to Moses. (His mother’s name was Shelomith the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan.)

Then they put him in custody, that the mind of the Lord might be shown to them.

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ”Take outside the camp him who has cursed; then let all who heard him lay their hands on his head, and let all the congregation stone him. Then you shall speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Whoever curses his God shall bear his sin. And whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall certainly stone him, the stranger as well as him who is born in the land. When he blasphemes the name of the Lord, he shall be put to death.” (24:11-16, NKJV)

Yesterday, His Word reminded us again and again who our Lord was then and forever will be, and today we open with a young man blaspheming His holy name.

When we take the Lord’s name in vain, or when we speak against Him, or when we turn our hearts from Him, we are put to death. When we dismiss Him as our One and Only, we die. We die a death that we cannot actually even begin to fathom. It is beyond our understanding all that life could be. But if we turn from our Maker, we lose everlasting life. Period.

On the other hand, when we turn towards our Maker. When we ask the Lord for forgiveness. When we praise His holy name and shun evil, that is life!

“When he blasphemes the name of the Lord, he shall be put to death.” (24:16, NKJV)

And then, we get into ways to honor the Lord to an even greater extent. Now, I know I have trouble truly keeping the Sabbath DAY, but today’s passage also speaks of a Sabbath YEAR.

And the Lord spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you come into the land which I give you, then the land shall keep a sabbath to the Lord. Six years you shall sow your field, and six years you shall prune your vineyard, and gather its fruit; but in the seventh year there shall be a sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a sabbath to the Lord. You shall neither sow your field nor prune your vineyard. What grows of its own accord of your harvest you shall not reap, nor gather the grapes of your untended vine, for it is a year of rest for the land.” (25:1-5, NKJV)

Remembering every moment of every day that the only reason you and I have breath and life is our Lord, and maybe, hopefully, we can also remember to take time out to give Him the respect He deserves.

Every seventh day, He deserves our attention and our rest from the worldly duties that take up so much of our constant thoughts and energy.

He deserves for us to tithe our time as well as our money. 10% of our every day is roughly two and a half hours a day. It sounds like a lot of time, and I’m sure your first reaction is that you are already booked solid as it is, but let me tell you, friends, He is the best investment of your time you will ever make.

He deserves for us to look to Him in times of struggle as well as times of praise.

He deserves for us to seek His guidance through the good, the bad, and the ugly.

“Therefore you shall not oppress one another, but you shall fear your God; for I am the Lord your God. So you shall observe My statutes and keep My judgments, and perform them; and you will dwell in the land in safety. Then the land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill, and dwell there in safety.” (25:17-19, NKJV)

I seek His favor and blessings. And I pray for them for you, as well.

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

Day 53 reading: Leviticus, chapters 26-27

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Bible in a Year-Chronological Study, Blessings, Eternity, Leviticus, Rules worth LIVING by, Seeing God

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50) “I AM the LORD your GOD” (Leviticus, chapters 19-21)

Oh, happy day, we have reached Day 50 of our chronological journey through the Bible. I want to take this opportunity, not only to go through my personal thoughts on today’s scripture reading, but also to do a little light house-keeping. Don’t panic…when I say “light” I mean it.

Primarily, what I want to do is tell those who may just be starting on this journey, to begin at the beginning! If you want to get in on this journey through our chronological Bible study, start today! We are reading chronologically so that we can build a little deeper understanding of the historic elements and keep everything in perspective. So, if you’re just joining in the fun and have a mind to start this process, check out The “Bible in a Year–Chronological Study category, begin with my intro post and Day 1, and continue on through the days. I purposely numbered the posts by DAY rather than DATE so that anyone could start at the beginning without much confusion. It’s an awesome journey!

Day 50 reading: Leviticus, chapters 19-21

First, right from the get-go, there’s a theme that runs through today’s passage, and it’s a lovely theme.

The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them ‘Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.” (19:1-2, NIV)

We are to be holy because our Creator is holy. We are holy because we were created in His holy image. We are to be holy because we have been given all the tools and rules to be holy.

“Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the Lord your God. Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the Lord, who makes you holy.” (20:7-8, NIV)

“You are to be my holy ones because I, the Lord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own.” (20:26, NIV)

How can the children of God ever do a thing or think a thought or say a word against God when He loves us so much and continually proves His love and grace over our lives time and time again?

“Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the Lord.” (19:12, NIV)

“Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.” (19:15, NIV)

“Do not seek revenge of bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.” (19:18, NIV)

“Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord.” (19:28, NIV)

“When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.” (19:33-34, NIV)

“I will set my face against the person who turns to mediums and spiritists who prostitute himself by following them, and I will cut him off from his people.” (20:6, NIV)

Friends, He wants nothing less for your life and my life than to be His holy ones.

“Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the Lord, who makes you holy.” (20:8, NIV)

I don’t know about you, but in the world we live in now full of tats and profanity and spiritualists and blatant immorality at every turn, I can certainly appreciate that the Lord gives us every opportunity for holiness and purity in His eyes.

“Keep all of my decrees and laws and follow them, so that the land where I am bringing you to live may not vomit you out.” (20:22, NIV)

Sometimes, don’t we look around and all we see is the vomit of the land. And we, you and I, our friends and strangers, we have allowed this evil to either creep slyly in or crash down the door, but either way we must have left something unguarded. We are here on this journey to guard ourselves against evil and to arm ourselves with the Word. Our foundation is greater today than it was 50 days ago, of that I am sure, so keep on stepping and we will be linked arm-in-arm against those who are trying to prevent us from our holy gifts from God.

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

Day 51 reading: Leviticus, chapters 22-23

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Bible in a Year-Chronological Study, Blessings, Creation, Eternity, Faith, Forgiveness, Leviticus, Rules worth LIVING by, Trust

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