Day 142: Fantastic, The Lord Delivered His People But What About Me?

Day 142: Fantastic, The Lord Delivered His People - But What About Me?

Read: Letter From Jude

We all will claim to know the story of the crossing of the Red Sea, or do we? Here is another version of that story or as Paul Harvey might say .... "the rest of the story?" It seems one day that Moses had led the children of Israel on out of Egypt - and they now had Pharaoh and his armies in hot pursuit behind them and the Red Sea in front of them. But wait a minute, friends, there is something very wrong here - they are all seemingly going to be trapped! Oh no, there can be nothing good to come from this!
So Moses now summoned Joshua and other tribal leaders together and reviewed with them their very desperate straits they were in. What to do? Anyone have any timely ideas that might actually work?

One of the engineering types suggested that it should be very possible to construct a pontoon bridge - but it was quickly noted that they didn’t have time nor material for it. All kinds of crazy ideas were suggested - however, none of them have any merit. Finally, Moses asked, “What if I were to pray to Yahweh God and ask him to send a mighty wind to sweep back the waters of the Red Sea so that the dry land would just appear from beneath the sea? Everyone scratched their collective heads, looked at each other, shrugged their shoulders and finally agreed: "It is not like anything else they could come up with was going to work." "So, go ahead Moses, lets give God a try. Let us see what God can do for us."

Then we could just cross over dry land. And then when we’re safely on the other side the wind could subside and the waters would rush back and drown the Egyptian army who would be in hot pursuit? What do you think of that idea?” At this point Moses’ publicity man jumped up enthusiastically and said “Moses Baby, if you can pull that one off—I guarantee I can get you two full pages in the Bible!” Well, as we know the Lord did deliver the people of Israel from Pharaoh and the Egyptians and he did it by parting the Red Sea. I know this scenario sounds a little bit fantastic. Of course, this Biblical record is no different than many others that God did as recorded in Scripture. The Lord delivered the people of Israel from bondage in Egypt and when given the chance, God is still in the delivery business today. 

 

He delivers people from whatever they are in bondage to or enslaved to; booze, drugs, immorality, play, pleasure, gambling, foolishness, and so very much more. But now, for me, like Jude, (3) 'Friends, I have been trying to write you about our common salvation. But these days my heart is so very troubled, and I am compelled to write to you and encourage you to continue struggling for the faith that was entrusted to the saints once and for all.' As we begin our forty day journey trying to figure out how to cross our Red Sea, lets try something fantastic - try God! Maybe, God will deliver us too. 

Let Us Pray: Father, give me the courage to follow the pathway of faith, not the path of fear, for you have not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind. Father, please endue me with Your power, clothe me in Your love that casts out all fear and guide me with the mind of Christ. Oh Lord I pray to please let Your mind be in me as it is in Christ Jesus. Please strengthen me to take the path You have set before me and not the path of least resistance, because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way that leads to life, and there are few who find it. Therefore, I ask You to reveal to me Your clear direction, please speak to me that You would work in me both to will and to do Your good pleasure In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0ZBoTuwrGg

Let Your Fire Fall

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Day 141: “Our offenses Are Ever With Us. We Do Acknowledge Our Iniquities”

Day 141: “Our offenses Are Ever With Us. We Do Acknowledge Our Iniquities”

Read: Isaiah 59

What is “Ash Wednesday”? Where did this idea come from? In the Bible, ashes were always associated with humility and mortality, fasting and remorse. If anyone had sinned against God (and who of us has not), and they felt remorse about that sin, and they were repenting of that sin, then sometimes, in the Bible, you'd sprinkle some ashes on your head as a sign of sorrow and repentance. Ashes were supposed to remind you that you were only mortal, that you will eventually become ashes after you die. We are only ashes, we need to repent of our sins while God still gives us a time of grace, a chance, an opportunity for reconciliation. Adonai’s arm is never too short to save, nor is his ear too dull to hear.

Very early Christian churches had thought long about this idea. People, in private, at times, would sprinkle ashes on themselves as a sign of repentance. Eventually, this became a public practice. Later, instead of sprinkling the ashes on your head, the ashes would be rubbed onto the forehead in the shape of a cross. It was a sign of our repentance, and a reminder of your baptism, when the sign of the cross was placed on you with water and the Word. However, ashes or no ashes, what’s really far more
important, though, is not whether you have ashes on your forehead. What’s far more important is what’s going on in deep within the deepest recesses your heart, what’s going on deep within your soul.

Today, let us take a miniature Lenten journey as we look at Isaiah 59. Right away in verse 12, we read, “Our offenses are many in your sight, and our sins testify against us” – that’s true, isn’t it? If you were to count all the sins you have committed in just one week – and remember, sins include not just your deeds, but your thoughts. Sins include not just the things you do, but also the things you don’t do, but should. If you were to count all these sins, your offenses would be many. Thousands, even millions of sins, testifying against you in God’s court of law. Do you really want to hear the full measure of our offenses from God? Okay, steady your heart and gird your soul against this onslaught - read vs 2 - 11!

What don't we have to repent from? Reality is: “Our offenses are ever with us. We do acknowledge our iniquities” – there you see a key phrase as we think about Lent this day. Lent is a time when look you at yourself, and acknowledge that there are some things that need to be fixed up. There are some things about me and you that are not perfect, things that need to be both subtly or radically changed, things that need to be adjusted to restore our right relationship with Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Right off
the top I can place my attitudes about sharing what the Adonai Elohim, God Almighty has done for me, thru my reaching out, could be doing, nay very much should be doing for the most faith challenged.

Let Us Pray: ABBA, Father it seems that we have spent too much time making a mess of things. Lord Jesus Christ, by Your grace and infinite mercy, please forgive those things we have done which have caused you sadness, and those things we should have done that would and should have brought you joy. In both we have utterly failed ourselves, our neighbors and above all You. Holy Spirit be our guide. Bring us back to that One true place where our journey began, when we said that we would follow the
way that you first trod. Lead us to the Cross, meet us there, sit next to us, talk with us for a while.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myP9Mvs1sOk

Sidewalk Prophets -- "You Love Me Anyway" with Lyrics

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© 2012 WMG The lyric video for Sidewalk Prophets' single "You Love Me Anyway". Visit

Day 140: “Defrauding Yourself, Defrauding Your Neighbor, Defrauding God!"

Day 140: “Defrauding Yourself, Defrauding Your Neighbor, Defrauding God!"

Read: Malachi 3:6 - 18 (Amplified)

Today, we have moved one day forward toward the beginning of Lent. Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, its traditional beginning. Yesterday's effort asked you to focus on the goodness of YOUR 'religion'. For today, I am asking you to consider the implications of this verse (8): 8 'Will man rob (defraud) God? Yet you are robbing (defrauding) me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed (defrauded) you?’ (You have withheld) your tithes and contributions.' Now please focus in on and carefully Consider that word 'defraud'. When used as verb it means to Illegally obtain money from (someone) by deception. Please Consider synonyms (like minded phrases) for this word includes: cheat - swindle - deceive - embezzle.
 

These are extremely serious legal accusations that God is leveling against His people. Then, these sort of charges leveled against anyone could result in a serious case of death. Today, depending on the level of the deception - we are staring at a seriously long time of incarceration. When we think of “stealing” we usually picture a Bernie Madow or any perpetrator of a 'Ponzi Scheme' - a nice guy on the surface but underneath an unscrupulous and greedy individual taking grotesque advantage of law abiding folks the result of which is the utter ruination of lives and little hope of getting their money returned. These 'frauds' know full well what they are doing is making conscious choices and cheating other people.

'Will a man rob or defraud God? Yet you rob and defraud Me. But you say, In what way do we rob or defraud You?' (v8) Yes, we say "In what way do we defraud You?" Consider this: there is another realm to stealing besides the hardened criminal, it is the many ways we find each day in our common lives to defraud; perhaps things as cheating someone out of an act of compassion, an act of mercy, simple, timely words of forgiveness, taking away someone’s good name with gossip, deciding that those pencils the company bought belong at your house instead of the office, and even the failure to give to God His tithes and offerings! This is not just about our money but our sacrificial gifts of love too.

Cheating yourself, cheating your neighbor, cheating God, destroys relationships that are built on trust, and it destroys self respect when one receives by theft that which does not belong to them. Stealing destroys character as it breeds corruption. Theft can compromise our relationship with one another and with God, in this way it hurts the soul and society. Do you think it does not matter in the end when you withhold a kind word from someone? I do not know for sure, it is just a random thought, but it is
my guess that a few random "thank you's" freely offered, freely given just may make someone's day go better. So, friend, where are you defrauding yourself, defrauding your neighbor or defrauding God?

Let Us Pray: Lord God, the time draws ever nearer, and indeed is very close at hand when we will be called to place our hearts, our minds, our spirits before Your altar:

"O Lord, The house of my soul is narrow; enlarge it that you may enter in. It is ruinous, O repair it! It displeases Your sight. I confess it, I know. But who shall cleanse it, to whom shall I cry but to you? Cleanse me from my secret faults, O Lord, and spare Your servant from strange sins." Saint Augustine of Hippo (AD 354-430)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJXIugwiN7Q

Casting Crowns - Jesus, Friend Of Sinners (with lyrics)

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Lyrics for Casting Crowns' song "Jesus, Friend Of Sinners," from the album Come To The Well, in stores and on iTunes http://bit.ly/q2nytx

Day 139: What Good Is Your 'Religion' Anyway?

Day 139: What Good Is Your 'Religion' Anyway?

Read: Malachi 3:13 - 18

The countdown has begun, it is three days till Ash Wednesday, the traditional period of the forty days of Lent. Lent is the Christian season of preparation before Easter. The season of Lent is a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. The purpose is to set aside time for reflection on Jesus Christ - his suffering and his sacrifice, his life, death, burial and resurrection - allot to reflect on. The Bible does not actually or even specifically mention the custom of Lent, however, the practice of repentance and mourning in ashes can be found herein these readings: 2Samuel 13:19; Esther 4:1; Job 2:8; Daniel 9:3; and Matthew 11:21.

Today I'm beginning a short series of devotional efforts asking the age old question: "What good is our religion?" Searching through the Hebrew Scripture for a place to start, I was lead to a passage from Malachi 3:13 - 15: “You have used harsh words against me,” says the Lord. “You ask, ‘How have we spoken against you?’ 14 “You have said, ‘It’s pointless to serve God. What do we gain if we meet his standards or if we walk around feeling sorry for what we’ve done? 15 So now we (shall) call arrogant people blessed. Not only are evildoers encouraged, they even test God and get away with it.’ It sounds like God is coming right out of heaven and is accusing His chosen people of being 'religious' frauds!

Even today as we sit here together there is even still today no one who can claim that they have not wondered, at one time or another, why the wicked seem to prosper so, while the Saints of God suffer. Some have even become so discouraged that they've asked, “What’s the use of religion? What good is it? Does it make any difference to a man’s condition?” These are completely valid questions to ask, and so monumentally difficult to answer. Mankind is teetering on the brink of a great chasm and where is 'religion' with the rope to pull us all back and save us from a fate worse than death? Personally, I hope that my 'religion' has already fallen over the cliff for I pray that 'my religion' never saves nobody!!!

So, what good is my 'religion' if it never saves? The only possible answer is no good because only God saves. So, Mankind’s age-old questions, Questions that can be traced back to the days of the Israelites who returned from exile in Babylon. Even they had not had the prosperity they had hoped for. So many of them, even those who had served God so faithfully, began to let doubts darken their trust as they listened to the whispers of their own vain glorious hearts, reinforced by the mutterings of others. Here they had all been diligent keeping God’s laws, and going in black garments “before the Lord” in grand demonstrations of penitence, and no good had come to them or anyone else either. So, let this be the place we begin to reflect. Start asking yourself this question: Just what good is YOUR 'religion'?

Let Us Pray: Father God, as we countdown the days, as we approach this season of Lent once again, Your age old accusation remains, Your ancient words still ring loudly in our ears: 'Your words have been strong and hard against Me, says the Lord. Yet you say, What have we spoken against You? You have said, It is useless to serve God, and what profit is it if we keep His ordinances and walk gloomily and as if in mourning apparel before the Lord of hosts? Whether 2500 years ago or today, we still
cannot give any meaningful answer or offer up any legitimate excuse nor argument against it. Our claim to fame: We are just as stubborn and stiff necked as the exiles.

So, Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth. Let us pray even further. O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations. Through Jesus Christ Our Lord and Savior.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJXIugwiN7Q

Casting Crowns - Jesus, Friend Of Sinners (with lyrics)

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Lyrics for Casting Crowns' song "Jesus, Friend Of Sinners," from the album Come To The Well, in stores and on iTunes http://bit.ly/q2nytx

Day 138: "Who Is Wise And Understanding Among You?"

Day 138: "Who Is Wise And Understanding Among You?"

Read: Proverbs 3:1 - 20, James 3:13 - 18

Who is a wise man? And who is understanding among you? It’s interesting that two men known for their wisdom asked that very same question. Solomon in Ecclesiastes 8:1 he asked, “Who is as the wise man and who knows the interpretation of a thing?” Another person who asked that question is the great philosopher Socrates. Socrates taught Plato who taught Aristotle, are all known as the greatest philosophers of the western world. Socrates spent his whole life on a quest for wisdom. His quest looked a lot like Solomon’s, but Socrates died without finding it. At the end of Ecclesiastes, Solomon found true wisdom in the only place it can be found—in the Word of God.

Yet the wisest of the wise will tell you that wisdom does not spring up overnight. It is something that takes much time to learn. To become wise the Book of Proverbs says we must seek God's wisdom and strive to live according to His Living Word. And we must not only learn our lessons well, we must also strive to live them well. The Book of Proverbs, which was authored several hundred of years before the birth of Christ, is as relevant today as it was during the days it was being written and transcribed. In
fact many of what we now know as anecdotes from our parents are derived from it. Proverbs contains indispensable advice that should apply to everyday realities of life. Probably even the one that you live.

Let me intrude on your comfort zone and ask you this: Do you place a high value upon the acquisition of wisdom? The pursuit of wisdom is a race all mankind regardless of his or her economic, social status, health, life circumstance, nationality, skin color, cultural beliefs, religious or spiritual beliefs or the lack thereof, must be engaged in. Familiar with the term "In Hot Pursuit", then this is exactly where we really need to intentionally and deliberately place our lives. I believe the rewards are more than we can imagine. 'Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She's a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called happy.'

Let me intrude on your comfort zone a little bit further. Do you, today, seek to strive to live a life of righteousness and wisdom? Good, then study the ultimate source of wisdom: The Living Word of God. You must seek out worthy mentors listening carefully to their advice. You must strive to associate as much as you can, and be guided by men and women whose lives demonstrate "a talk that is equaled by their walk." To become wise you must seek God's guidance with consistency and great purpose. A wonderful way to discern God's guidance is beginning a lifelong study of the Book of Proverbs. And please trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. God will do the rest!

Let Us Pray: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth. Let us further pray. O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zAdI_zdC2c

My savior-I'm not skilled to understand

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Awesome Song Jesus said : " I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for apart from me ye can do...

Day 137: Be Good For Something: The Pursuit Of God's Wisdom!

Day 137: Be Good For Something: The Pursuit Of God's Wisdom!

Read: Proverbs 1:1 - 7

There is a simple and basic premise to life that I believe everyone can agree with. It is that everyone starts out wanting to be good at something and for something. It is foundational to who we are as a human being and absolutely essential for a positive self esteem. We all want to be able to hold our head high. We all want our steps to be taken in a fashion that says "I am confident", "I am somebody", "I am successful." "I am good at what I do," and "I have a place in this world." Yes, my fellow readers, that is usually where everyone and their very best of intentions starts. Then reality is suddenly that brick wall that plants itself unceremoniously in our path then: SMACK!!! Reality sometimes will hurt you.

Many want to be good at something in their life but the greatest way to be good for something is to attain wisdom. Wisdom is defined by the Bible as that which is true and right combined with good judgment. So now let us take a look at the look at the lighter side of wisdom: "Good judgment always comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment." "Letting the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than putting it back in." "If you get to thinking you’re a person of some influence, try
ordering somebody else’s dog around." "If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging". "Quickest way to double your money? You might try Folding it back into your wallet!"

When I say the word “wisdom” many ideas pop into the minds of those who hear this profound word. Children might tell you wisdom is: "Don’t flush the john when your dad’s in the shower." "Don’t ever be too full for dessert." "Don’t pick on your sister when she’s holding a baseball bat." "Never try to baptize a cat, they get wild." And I guess my personal favorite might be "Listen to your brain. It has lots of information." Of course kids will always have a marvelously simple way at looking at what wisdom is. Today, why not do something for yourself. Jot down some of those tiny wisps of wisdom you have learned from your parents, children, from your life experience. What do they tell you about yourself?

From the Book of Proverbs I have learned that I can never have enough wisdom on my own to deal with all those random brick walls that suddenly drop hitting my face. Been there done that and the wisest thing I learned is that my nose will break before the wall moves one inch. When I turned to Proverbs I found v.7 'The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.' Well, speaking only for myself, I can safely say that the last thing I want to be known as is a fool. If I have a wide range of choices of being 'good for something' it will not be as the choice fool.

Since self image is everything for everybody, I'd rather be known for my pursuing of God's wisdom!

Let Us Pray: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth. Let us further pray. O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations. Through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgM3nokGVqg
WHISPERS OF MY FATHER - ANCIENT WORDS by Michael W. Smith with Lyrics
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WHISPERS OF MY FATHER - ANCIENT WORDS by Michael W. Smith with Lyrics
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https://www.facebook.com/WhispersofMyFather

WHISPERS OF MY FATHER - ANCIENT WORDS by Michael W. Smith with Lyrics

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https://www.facebook.com/WhispersofMyFather

Day 136: Confronted By A Shortage Of Wisdom?

Day 136: Confronted By A Shortage Of Wisdom?

Read: James 1:1 - 8

Sometimes as we drive down the road of life, we come to dangerous intersections. Sometimes we refer to them as “forks in the road.” They are those moments where a choice we make or don’t make sets us on a course that could influence the rest of our journey. Do we stop or go. Turn right or left. Go ahead or turn back. Do we take the highways or the back country roads. Perhaps you feel like you are at a dangerous intersection right now in your life. Perhaps there are a few decisions you really do not want to make but you know that even if you do not do it now, you know for certain that it is going to be just around the next bend. "I wish I knew what that one right choice was!" "Why wont someone tell me?"

The Bible speaks to us about a divine resource we can utilize when we come to those intersections. It is called wisdom. There are many times when we will approach one of those intersections and we will soon realize we have a shortage of wisdom. This is the very situation James addresses in verses 5-8: 'Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. An indecisive man is unstable in all his ways.' Tough words aren't they? Me indecisive? Me unstable? Umm?

This is one of those passages in the Bible which speaks to us as a very good source of very sound advice. We all need good advice from good sources to help us resolve which choices represent the very best or at the very least, the least dangerous of the everyday decisions we have to make. James has just finished speaking about all the various trials we encounter in life. These are the difficulties and afflictions that come our way. Often times, these trials bring us to one of those intersections where we feel lost and don’t know which way to go. We don’t understand the cause of the trial or its purpose. We begin to feel acutely our shortage of wisdom, become (gasp) indecisive, (gasp gasp) unstable too?

In this text, James tells us what to do. I would summarize the theme of this text like this: Life creates a demand for wisdom which God supplies when the conditions are met. There is so much about one's life with God that is contrary to the way the world works, contrary to what we watch, learn on TV, read on FaceBook and other social media. The world would have us take revenge when other wrong us. But God says to turn it around and 'Love Your Enemy as You Love Yourself'. The world says it's about your outward appearance. However, God says choosing to develop your inward self is time far better spent. Which ones right? Significant decisions when confronted by a shortage of wisdom, (gasp) instability?

Let Us Pray: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth. Let us further pray. O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations. Through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgM3nokGVqg
WHISPERS OF MY FATHER - ANCIENT WORDS by Michael W. Smith with Lyrics
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https://www.facebook.com/WhispersofMyFather

WHISPERS OF MY FATHER - ANCIENT WORDS by Michael W. Smith with Lyrics

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https://www.facebook.com/WhispersofMyFather