Tuesday, July 31, 2012

I am the Lord - Day 9


Leviticus 14:33-Leviticus 26:26

"Therefore shall ye keep my commandments, and do them:
I am the Lord.
Neither shall ye profane my holy name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I am the Lord which hallow you,
That brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God:
 I am the Lord." Leviticus 22:31-33


            Why did the Lord bring the children of Israel out of Egypt? So He could be their God and they could be His people. In this section of reading he said, "I am the Lord" over 30 times.

"I am the Lord your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, to give you the land of Canaan, and to be your God." Leviticus 25:38

            He had to take them away from their routine and habits. He had to shake up their life to get their attention.

"And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people." Leviticus 26:12

          I learned that God wants to be the Lord of my life. He may have to remove me from my comfort zone to do that. I need to be reminded that God is the Lord. I need to keep him as the Lord of my life.




Monday, July 30, 2012

There is a Difference - Day 8



Leviticus 1:1-Leviticus 14:32



"For I am the Lord that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy." Leviticus 11:45

         
             There is a difference between the clean and the unclean. There is a difference between holy and unholy. Once we allow uncleanliness, it is all unclean.

         We cannot be holy if we allow a little sin into our lives. We cannot separate from the world if we are still playing around in the world.

          There is a difference between a Christian and an unbeliever. There is a difference between someone who is on fire for the things of the Lord and someone who is just playing around with their Christianity.

          I learned that there needs to be a difference between me and the world. If I do not see one than I need to change what I am doing.











Sunday, July 29, 2012

Doing Good - Day 7


Exodus 29:1-Exodus 40:38


"And Moses called Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whose heart the Lord had put wisdom, even every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it:"
Exodus 36:2


               In this section of reading ,the familiar story is when Aaron and the children of Israel get caught worshiping a golden calf. Then as we get to the section on the building of the temple we may tend to speed things up a bit because this is the not so interesting part.

          But really, the names of Bezaleel and Aholiab are names we should be very familiar with. These men did good. They did very good. They built, among many other things,  the altar, the curtains for the tabernacle, the altar of burnt offerings, and all the vessels for the tabernacle.

 "And Bezaleel the son Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that the Lord commanded Moses. And with him was Aholiab, son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver, and a cunning workman, and an embroiderer in blue, and in purple, and in scarlet, and fine linen." Exodus 38:22, 23



          These men were asked to do a job and they did it. We need to teach this story in our Sunday schools. These names should come to our minds easily when we are asked to name men that pleased God.

"And Moses did look upon all the work, and, behold, they had done it as the Lord had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them." Exodus 39:43

Because of the willingness of Bezaleel and Aholiab and the men and women who worked diligently on the tabernacle all the people were blessed.

I learned that I should acknowledge the people around me that are just quietly going about their business serving God and thank them and remember them in prayer.





Saturday, July 28, 2012

Separation Day 6



Exodus 15:19-Exodus 28:43

"And Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel;"  Exodus 19:3

          It looks like that the things put forth in this section are to establish the children of Israel as a peculiar people.

They have laws.
They have a certain way to worship.
They have a certain place to worship.
Their priests have a certain garment for worship.
And only the priest can go before the Lord.
         
          I have learned that I need Jesus. I need grace. We were never able to keep these laws and standards. All this was put into place to show us our need for a Saviour.










Friday, July 27, 2012

Understanding Day 5



Exodus 1:1- Exodus 15:8


"And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;"  Exodus 3:7


          God is instructing Moses to go back to Egypt and bring His people out of the hand of Pharaoh. He told Moses that he knows of their sorrow.


"And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me?" Exodus 5:22


          Moses is doing what the Lord wanted him to do but things do not seem to be going as planned. Moses goes back to God and says, what was I suppose to do here?

          Moses did the right thing by coming to God and asking him that question. He came to God with his problem.


"Then the Lord said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land." Exodus 6:1

          God answers Moses. That is what I need to keep doing. Go to the source. I will not find my answers anywhere else.


"Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord," Exodus 15:1

          Moses sang praises to the Lord. That is also what I need to keep doing.

          I learned that I am doing the right thing by staying close to God even when I do not understand what he is doing in my life.


Thursday, July 26, 2012

Bad+God=Good Day 4



Genesis 40:12-Genesis 50:26

          When Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, he tried to reassure them that they did not send him away but God sent him ahead to preserve life.


"Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life."  Genesis 45:5

            Joseph said that it was God again in verse 7:

 "And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance."

          Then Joseph says it again in verse 8, that really, it was God and not them that sent him.

"So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt."

          Joseph's brothers never were completely free from their guilt because after the death of Jacob their father the brother's feared Joseph in what he may do to them now that their father was dead.

          Joseph says it a final time, really it was God.

"But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive."  Genesis 50:20

          I have learned it is difficult to take ugly, hurtful things that happen in our lives and see how God can use them to produce good. But God does.

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."  Romans 8:28



Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Prepare Day 3



Genesis 25:20-Genesis 40:11


          Just as a farmer prepares the land for the harvest, Esau had spent time preparing himself for the day he would meet with Jacob again.

          Gen.33:4, "And Esau ran to meet him (Jacob), and embraced him and fell on his neck, and kissed him; and they wept."


          His attitude was so very different from when these brothers were together the last time.

          Gen. 27:41, " And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: And Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will slay my brother Jacob."

            Esau was now ready to meet Jacob because he had already prepared him self for this day. He had already forgiven him. It was even  a fulfillment of Issac's blessing to Esau.

           Gen. 27:40, "...And it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck."

           Esau could have taken all the Jacob's cattle and killed Leah and the children, but instead, he was gracious. Esau welcomed Jacob and his family.

          I have learned to be gracious to people, especially to those who have wronged me. I need to prepare myself to forgive them. Even if they never ask for forgiveness.

          

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Pray for America Day 2




Genesis 17:1-Genesis 28:19



          As the Lord is preparing to pass severe and complete judgement on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham is drawing nearing to him. He starts to make a bargain with the Lord about the cities and the people that live there. Abraham asks the Lord if he would destroy the wicked with the righteous. What if there were fifty righteous? Would he destroy the fifty with the wicked? The Lord says no. Abraham keeps asking all the way down to 10 righteous people. If there were 10 righteous people would the Lord destroy the city? (I think they both knew that this was a stretch). The Lord said that if there were 10 righteous he would not destroy the city. (Genesis 18:22-23)

          Well, we all know that the city gets destroyed with only Lot and part of his family being yanked out of there. Still in the end, Lot lost his wife and is only survived with two of his daughters.

           Am I praying for America this way? Am I asking God to spare our country from punishment? Our country needs God's hand upon it; blessing and guiding us in wisdom.

           Am I living a life that is righteous and set a part for the things of God? I have to live in this world but I do not have to be a part of things that would shame the name of Jesus.

           I learned in this reading that I need to pray for mercy on America and live a life of righteousness. Not perfection or a "holier than thou" attitude, but a life that will draw people to know Jesus.

          I also learned that I need to be more bold in telling others about the saving power of the Gospel. There is hope and there is an answer to the void in people's life. It is Jesus. I need to tell the others that the answer to their question is Jesus.




Monday, July 23, 2012

Trust Day 1

Genesis 1:1- 16:16


          God was blessing Abram so much that there was not enough room for Abram and Lot to live in the same area anymore. So Abram gave Lot the choice to pick the area where he would like to live. Well, Lot chose the best of the land and Abram would get the land that God would bless.

           In Chapter 15, after being led out of Haran, misleading a king, separating from Lot, battling with kings and then rescuing Lot; Abram is getting a serious talking to by God.

"After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not Abram: I am thy Shield and thy exceeding great reward." Genesis 15:1 KJV

          Then God told him again of his plans. Some where good and some of the plans were not so good. But Abram believed God.

"And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness." Genesis 15:6 KJV


          What I learned is that I need to trust God's word. I may not understand all that God is showing me or what he is bringing me through. I need to realize that God knows what He is doing and keep following Him.

 



90 Day Journey Through the King James Bible 2012


 I am challenged to do more for the Lord.

I have done a lot of hard things in the past two years. Things that were not only hard but were negative and caused severe stress on my body and emotions. I have now lived in my apartment for one  year and God has been able to heal me and shower my life with blessings. I know I am exactly where he wants me to be. There is comfort in that knowledge.

Now that things are getting in a more settled place I have been able to look around outside of myself and wonder about what God would have for me to do for Him. One of the things was reading my bible through in 90 days. I had done it before in 2010; however, so much about me has changed I would like to do it again and see what I get out of it this time.

I hope you follow along with me as I rediscover God's word in a very short span of time. I use God's Word found in the King James Bible.

Sunday, July 22, 2012

IT'S ABOUT TIME




IT'S ABOUT TIME
Fragile
Comfort
Healing
Growing
Maturing
Waking
Realizing
Dreaming
Confidence
Others
Compassion
Laughter
Happiness
Love
Vulnerable

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Do What to my Enemy?




I had this great blog I was going to write about praying for your enemies and how difficult it is to find the words that God would have me say. I go to look up the verse about “praying for your enemies” and it doesn’t say I have to pray for my enemy... it says I have to LOVE my enemy! I am sincerely struggling with just praying kind words and thoughts for my enemy and God says in his Word that he wants me to love my enemy. I am floored. I can tell you the truth that it seems real easy now to pray for my enemy.
”But I say unto you, Love your enemies," 
Matthew 5:44 KJB

Friday, July 6, 2012

You Won't Believe it!




“I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe though it be told you.” Habakkuk 1:5b

I came across this verse and it has been on mind ever since. When I first read it I just laughed because if someone would have told me what I would have to go through to leave an abusive relationship I would have, for one, never believed them and for two, I would have ran away scared to death. When I prayed to God about my marriage I prayed for a miracle. I was praying for a Cinderella miracle or a Fireproof (the move) miracle. I wanted the changed life and happy ending, miracle. Oh I got the changed life alright, but just not quite the way I would have done it.


When Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego faced Nebuchadnezzar and told him that even if they had to go into the fiery furnace they would still not bow down to him, did they ever imagine that it would actually happen?


Then there is Lazarus who was so sick that his sisters sent for Jesus because they knew that if he was here that Lazarus would not die. But Jesus did not show up. Lazarus really did die. Lazarus really got buried. Days went by and he was still dead and Jesus was still not there.


As we read the names written in Hebrews chapter 11’s “Hall of Faith,” it can be staggering to read what they went through. God uses their story to give us strength when things in our own life become difficult and God does not act in a way that we would chose. We can still trust him.


Can you imagine the reaction of the three Hebrew children if God would have told them that one day they would be put in a furnace? How do you respond to news like that? How do you prepare yourself for that day? Of course we know the ending. Jesus was there waiting for them in the furnace. But they did not know that.


What about Lazarus? What if God told him that he would be sick, and Jesus would be asked to come but Jesus would not show up and consequently he would die of the sickness? His sisters will be distraught and cry for days over his death.


I do not know about you but God’s thought process makes me wonder about Him. I would not have chosen for the men to end up in the furnace or for Lazarus to die. God knew that he would get more glory if those horrible things happened. I would not have thought that.


God takes our ashes and turns them to beauty (Is. 61:3). He takes the desert and makes a stream. He takes the broken and builds upon it. Our God takes what this world rejected and brings salvation. God is in the miracle working business still today. It just may not come in a manner that we are expecting but that is why God wrote that “all things work together for good to them that love the Lord” (Romans 8:28).


I am glad that God does not tell us what He is up to because it allows us to take things in stride.  He then can prepare us so others can see God through our life. When we realize that it is about God and not about us, the situation takes on a whole new perspective. I will take God’s choice of a miracle over what I had in mind any day.