Category: gratefulness

Posted on

Deuteronomy 32-34, Ps 91 Prayer to God 

Prayers of the Saints

How do you begin your prayer time? Moses shares with us how he begins: “Give ear, O heavens, and let me speak; And let the earth hear the words of my mouth.”  We too pray, open the eyes of our hearts Lord, we want to see you. Open our ears so we can hear your Spirit speaking. Open our minds so we can comprehend the Truth, the Life and the Way of your Precious Son Jesus. Now Moses continues: “For I proclaim the name of the Lord; Ascribe greatness to our God!” Are we proclaiming God’s Name for ourselves and others? 

In addition we too should extol the greatness of our God because it brings sweetness to Him from us. As we pray, Holy Spirit bring to our minds those attributes of God as a way to praise Him. “The Rock! His work is perfect, For all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and upright is He.”

Today in your prayer time may you share these thoughts with Him as well as with another. 

Posted on

Deuteronomy 2 The Heart of God

As we read through these chapters, there are several verses that remind us of who these Israelites were and what God hoped for them and their future. For example: “The Lord our God has shown us his great glory, and we have heard him speak from the middle of the fire. It is now clear to us that God can speak to human beings and they can keep on living.” [Deut 5:24]. Today where does God speak to you, not from the fire but from the Holy Word, the inspired Word of God. God heard this and then He spoke: “If only it would really be their desire to fear me and obey all my commandments in the future, so that it may go well with them and their descendants forever.” [Deut 5:29] 

God’s heart and desire is that we fear and revere Him so that He might bless us and our children. Today, is there someone whom you love and care for but they are not obeying all His commandments? Or, they are not hearing the voice of the Lord? Is it because they are not His chosen ones? Let’s pray for them. I have my list, how about you? 

Posted on

Leviticus 16-18 Purity & Holiness

God gave Moses these chapters so that the priesthood and the people would know and understand the way to be holy. Moses recorded this for the nation of Israel that there be no misunderstanding. God is holy and He has called them to Himself to be a holy people. 

It is interesting to read about the scapegoat, how it was chosen, how used and the reasons. One goat was to be offered as a sin offering and the second to be sent into the wilderness. Dr Constable’s notes explain: “The two goats used in the ritual represented two aspects of the atonement that God provided. Both animals taught the Israelites that a sinless agent was removing their sins by vicarious atonement. The goat slain represented the judgment on sin that resulted in death necessary for atonement. The goat sent off into the wilderness with the sinner’s guilt imputed to it symbolized the removal of guilt.”

This was a ceremony to be etched into the minds of the people of the price sin exacts. How grateful I am that Jesus paid the price for my sin that I don’t have to follow these regulations, but also the heavy price my sin costs…not a goat, but the precious blood of my Savior. 

Posted on

Exodus 36 Skilled to do God’s Calling

Bless others

It was in Egypt on that fateful night that the Israelites were told to plunder them of all the riches that they could carry. Now, after some time, the plunderers have plenty to share for the building of the Tabernacle. Just imagine a pile of gold and silver to be used. It must have been massive as the building of this worship center would be massive. The hearts of the people were overflowing with gratitude and they came to share out of their abundance. Do we do the same when God calls us to build a worship center? How easily do we release our riches to further the building? 

We can almost hear the hammering and sawing and the hissing of the fires that were used to melt the ornaments of the Egyptians to fashion the many items needed to furnish the Tabernacle. It gave the people purpose and brought praise to God. What are we willing to give for the work of the ministry? 

Remember this: what you sow you will reap…and that is true in all circumstances.

Posted on

Exodus 16-18 Murmurings & Wise Counsel

What is our response when we face suffering?  Have you forgotten the work of God in the midst of a trial? Do you look back at what God did in the past for you? We are a part of the evil generation that forgets the blessings and only focuses on the present time. God has provided all that the Israelites have needed and yet their memories are short, so like us. They have witnessed the power of God to protect them from the hand of Pharaoh even in the time of suffering and yet they are focused on what will feed the body rather than what will feed the soul. 

One behavior we have honed is murmuring. We murmur when life has thrown us a challenge, a test if you may want to call it that, and it isn’t just us that murmur but our murmuring is caught and transferred to others. It is sort of like that yeast in the rising dough. It grows and fills the entire lump. 

Into this a visitor arrives; a man who has been seeking God and he finds it from the testimony of one. Now that he has seen the working of God, he believes. Where has your testimony of God spoken to the heart of another and you and he are blessed together? Moses’ father in law Jethro is wise for when he sees the predicament that is before Moses, he offers wisdom which is accepted. Learn from the aged! 

So many lessons here! Today rejoice and be glad for God has and is working. 

Posted on

1.3.25.God is a Promise Keeper

Genesis 5-8 God’s Character 

God's Promises are FOREVER Because He is a Promise Keeper!

Reading this once again reminds me of the consequences of sin and the blessings of obedience. When we toured the Ark in Kentucky it became clear to me the gargantuan task Noah had and why it took so long. These four men built this but I wonder if they realized the point of it all? When God calls me to a large task will I be as obedient as Noah even though others may not understand? 

I love what one author said: “the author is intentionally drawing out the similarities between God’s covenant with Noah and the covenant at Sinai. Why? The answer that best fits with the author’s purposes is that he wants to show that God’s covenant at Sinai is not a new act of God. The covenant is rather a return to God’s original promises.”

Today as we work through our tasks let us remember this wise counsel and know that as God promised Noah, He promised to send His Son for my sin. God is a promise keeper and that is my thought for today. 

Posted on

11.4.24. Sufferings Blessings

Psalm 126 Proof of God’s Care! 

The Jews have been in Babylon for 70 +/- years per God’s decree for their sin. What were they doing there? Jeremiah told them to build houses, build families, etc. As they lived and worked there in Babylon, one man, Ezra, studied and spent his time recording the words of God. Another, Ezekiel, lay on his side after making a replica of Jerusalem for x number of days. When the time drew near for God’s plan for their release, because of these faithful men, the people began to now recall:  “The Lord has accomplished great things for these people.”  The Lord did indeed accomplish great things for us. We were happy.” [Ps 126:3] The great king Cyrus released them and all of the Temple’s treasures and they sang this psalm as they walked for months from Babylon back to Jerusalem. 

Stop and consider these words and praise God for even in the midst of deep trials, He has done great things for us.He has sustained us, provided for our every need, built families, brought men to teach us about God. Surely this is a day to praise Him. 

What blessings do you recall as you think about your trials? God has done great things for you. Romans 5:3-5  “rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance, character, and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts.” These are the great things God has done for you as you look back at your time of suffering. 

Jesus paid the debt
Now we can rejoice
Posted on

9.29.24.Praise God Always

Psalm 106-108 The Long-suffering of God 

No matter what we read in these psalms, the repeated theme is to praise the Lord. Why praise Him when we are suffering? Stop and consider this: God sends suffering to purge us of our iniquities and so we will recall what He has done in the past. He is ever patient with His rebellious children. God sends them food and water in the most challenging times and yet they, and us, refuse to give Him praise. Over and over God’s long-suffering is present. If that were us, we would not be so patient and our lives reveal that truth. We are, like the Israelites of old, impatient and ungrateful. Why are we so? We are like the trees that snap at the water that rushes against them and snaps them and we grouse and complain for the hardship. What is God saying? 

God’s love and patience are ever before us but at some point, God will bring suffering into our lives so we may stop and rehearse His blessings and what He has done in the past. Stop today and praise God for what He has done. 

Posted on

Respecting Others

Romans 14 Wisdom Speaks

This year we are in the book of Revelation in our small groups. One thing the teacher/pastor has emphasized is what Paul has said in this chapter. “Now receive the one who is weak in the faith, and do not have disputes over differing opinions,” [Rom 14:1] The last phrase in this verse speaks wisely. It is often because of our spiritual superiority that we do just that! Paul is counseling us to not just be wise but to see others as they are. Some are learned in the study of the scriptures while others are weak and not as learned. Treat each other with respect and honor their opinions. Be patient and loving with those who think differently than you do. 

To help us understand this in a practical way, Paul uses the example of different foods. Some will not partake of wine but others see nothing wrong with that. Some will not eat meat but only vegetables while others eat meat with gusto! One of the fruits of the Spirit is gentleness. We are to be gentle and not pushy with those who think or act differently than we do. If we don’t we are not just not obeying the Spirit but we are like the Pharisees who lived by the motto of listen to what I say not as I do. 

Today, be ye kind to one another. 

Posted on

Free at Last!

Rom 8:1 no more condemnation

Romans 8 NO Condemnation

Satan is our adversary and as it says, his one motivation is to find or seeks to kill and destroy. He uses many means to keep us from being at peace and his tool is to remind us and to rehearse in our minds our past sins. Yet, as Paul writes, we have powerful advocates in the Holy Spirit and Jesus who are our intercessors in these times. Their prayers and words to the Father assure us of this: we are forgiven, sealed and prepared for the kingdom’s work both here and in the future. The older I get, the more I appreciate vs 1: there is therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. Secondly, when I can’t pray for one reason or another, the Holy Spirit knows the problem and He intercedes for me to the Father. His words are far more eloquent than mine. They reach the deepest hurt and the deepest thoughts of my heart. 

Amen and amen! Not condemned but free! 

Optimized by Optimole