"Death in Flirting" - 02/18/17 0 Numbers 16-17

 "Back off from the tents of these bad men; don't touch a thing that belongs to them.
Lest you be carried off on the flood of their sins."(16:26)

How often do we flirt with sin?
Do we run up and touch it - then dash away?
Do we bat our eyes at it, thinking we are in control?

Sin is so real.

"Carried off on the flood". Not a trickle, or a small stream, or even a river.

Not a flood, but The flood.

One small bite of a forbidden fruit - flood over the whole world - our Savior crucified on The Cross - separated from God - resurrected - conquering the grave.

One small bite.

How do we go among the world and not allow sin to touch our soul? Not allow it to penetrate our life? To not be curious about it and stop to check it out?

How do we live being totally enveloped in Him?

 

His Word - directs us - leads and supplies us.

The Holy Spirit - fills and protects us.

Christ saved and instructs us "be wise as serpents and innocent as doves" (Matthew 10:16).

Our ABBA - He carries each one of us in The Palm of His hand.

It is when we decide to take control and do things our way - instead of His. Then sin touches us.

 

satan is the father of lies. he knows what will entice us - draw us - catch our eye. To draw our focus off of God onto him or "self".

 

 Through Him we are able to really see - a sin is a sin. Outside of Christ, sin separates us from God.

It is all about keeping our focus on God.

Not to be curious or flirt with sin. For they say curiosity did kill the cat.

"The Tassels Of His Word" - 02/17/17 Numbers 14-15

"God spoke to Moses: "Speak to the People of Israel. Tell them that from now on they are to make tassels on the corners of their garments and to mark each corner tassel with a blue thread. 

When you look at these tassels you'll remember and keep all the commandments of God, 

and not get distracted by everything you feel or see that seduces you into infidelities. 

The tassels will signal remembrance and observance of all my commandments, to live a holy life to God. 

I am your God 

who rescued you from the land of Egypt 

to be your personal God. 

Yes, I am God, 

your God."(15:37-41)

What are your tassels?

There were a number of years in my life, so often, my tassels were "me". 

I was totally focused on - "me". 

I lived for "me". 

I was seduced by the world. 

Even after having Adam and Nichalas, I was guilty of putting them before our ABBA.

They often represented my worth,  not whose I was in Him.

Throughout those years I lived in the land of quicksand and mirages. Always exhausted - trying to survive "my way" and it was slowly killing me. Within myself was anger, bitterness, darkness.  And such a feeling of emptiness that even our sons could not fill.  

What a burden I was placing on them and everyone else I was trying to draw my worth from.

Until one day, He opened my heart and eyes.  He helped me to make tassels and then He hung them within my heart.

Tassels of His Word.

Since then I dig into it. I chew on it. I carry it within my heart.

My heart is continually being totally transformed by Him through His Word.

Have you the tassels of His Word?
His Words of hope, promises, security, love, peace, joy. 

The roadmap to our promised land. 

My "40 years of wandering in the wilderness" have been done for 32 years now. Are you still "wandering in the wilderness"?  Trying to fill the God void within you, trying to get your worth through the ways of this world?  He is our "own personal God". Our ABBA. Desiring only to be with YOU.

Our tassels remind us we need to be marching towards our Home - Following Him. To be with Him - Forever.
His Word is our tassels.

Are they hanging on your heart?

"No More Giants" - 02/16/17 - Numbers 11-13

"Everybody we saw was huge. " (13:32)

They took their focus off of God and began to doubt. Their feet wouldn't move fast enough as they ran in fear away from God. They ran in their own direction, guided by their own advice. Everything that God had brought them through was thrown out of their faith bank.

satan and his tool of doubt.

satan wants us to believe our Abba isn't bigger than anything we come up against. That He isn't bigger than even our own mistakes. Our sins.

But He is.

Hindsight is 20/20. Think about all the giants, the mountains, that have come into your path on your journey. At the time they seemed so large, there wasn't even a way to go around them, much less over them. And now when you look back, after being conquered, they lose their power of fear. Of doubt that you would make it to the other side. To the promised land.

When we visit Nichalas and Amber in Phoenix, I enjoy taking the challenge of hiking the surrounding mountains.  There is my annual one and this year Nichalas told me of another.  It was a 2-mile walk to the field surrounding the base where I could see various paths others had taken to gain access to it. One of the things I do is stay off the beaten path and try to succeed on the terrain less traveled.  

There was a moment of doubt, even feeling my body freeze up when trying to scale up a particularly sheer incline.  I had gotten myself where there was a place to climb up to the top and a ground wasp started to dive bomb me, letting me know a nest was close at hand.  Upon turning around and looking down, I wasn't sure where I had climbed up.  Doubt started to seep in along with a little fear.  It was a relief when I laughed out loud during praying, at the visualization of a rescue team having to come get me off the ledge.  With our ABBA directing my steps, "we" made it off the ledge and onto another point to reach the mountaintop.  

During my climb there were times when I had to stop and rest. It caused me anguish that my body was so out of shape and yet at the same time amazed it had covered the terrain laying below me.  It was during one of those rest times, as I looked out over the valley in worship of His beauty, His Awesomeness, that I realized what was happening. 

He was slowing my climb down to His time so I would stop and see His majesty. To have my breath taken away, not only from the exertion of the climb, but also His paintbrush, His sculptures of nature.

 Because I was only able to look up during my climb, I was missing the view. His having me stop to rest was making the mountain seem smaller as He broke it up into sections. He took my mind off the work in climbing the giant, to the vastness of His beauty surrounding it. He made that giant small - right there as I was on it. 

In a way only He can do, He made "us" bigger than that giant. He wrapped me right up into His arms causing me to focus on Him and all He created for me to see and enjoy. Much like the giants, the mountains in life. I am the one making them bigger than Him or me "in" Him. 

As I stood at the top, I knew it was only Him Who had brought me there in directing my steps, giving me a body able, and having His Hedge about me.  He and I are "we".  

Just as in the all of life, because we are His - nothing can overpower "us". He has supplied us with all "we" need.  Unless we choose to believe in the doubt satan cast before "us".  

Otherwise.  "We" have and "we" will make it over the mountains.  

"We" have and "we" will cast down the giants.

"At The Ready" - 02/15/17 - Numbers 8-10

"They camped at God's command and they marched at God's command. 

They lived obediently by God's orders as delivered by Moses. "(9:23)

I can still visualize the little blue overnight case my Grandma Dorothy kept in their bathroom closet.  It was always kept packed and at the ready for a moments notice when my Grandpa Spencer would come in and announce they were taking off.  As an adult, I look back and marvel at how well she lived life "at the ready".  The preparation in leaving involved much more than having their overnight case packed.  She always had to have their home, bookwork, food, laundry in order.  As well as phone numbers to notify paper, mail deliveries.  And at times she was not sure when they would be done with their adventure and return home.  

She did this with a servants heart.  Her place wasn't in the four walls they called home, but at my Grandpa's side.  Be it on a car ride, in a motel or temporary apartment. She counted it a blessing to share all their moments together.  

During this time in Scripture, the Israelites were living in tents.
All of their possessions with them.

They were also living in a state of being "at the ready". Not ever knowing how long God would have them stay in an area. There may have been times when they were just starting to "feel at home", and then the bugles would sound and packing up would begin. 

And they would pack up and march.  Because they wanted to be with our ABBA.

As I look about at myself and His family,  I begin to ponder if we are living "at the ready" or settled in with the blessings He rains down upon us.

Are we listening for His bugle to sound?
Is our whole being caught up in listening, watching His lead or are we distracted by the things of this world.

Even worse - have we become complacent in the desert of this world and its routine. 

I am not thinking so much about the physical aspect of life, but the spiritual.
Are we setting down roots?  

Or are we living "at the ready" just passing through this desert on our way to Heaven? 

Constantly desiring with our all to be with our ABBA.

"We. His Holy Ones" - 02/14/17 - Numbers 7

"They had to carry the holy things for which they were responsible on their shoulders." (7:9)

       
My Family in Him. 

 

 

We are all different in this family of ours.  

Some have broader shoulders, some have stronger arms and legs.  Some have the energy of youth and some enjoy sitting and watching others in action.  Some have the crown of wisdom adorning their head in the lovely shade of gray. Some are just learning the art of hair coloring.  And some who haven't any hair at all.  There are some who are the life of the party and some who have just as much fun observing the goings on. 

We are all different, yet related because we are of the same blood - His.

Each one of us.  Created in His image

Through our Savior we are all made Holy.

In His family, we are responsible for each other.  And at different times, each of us is to carry the other - as sometimes we will be carried.

When His family is obeying His commands, following His Christlike example - His family works. 

I love the times my family in Him has surrounded me in love when attacked from the world. Knowing we are all standing together as His Warriors in this spiritual warfare. How He has blessed me the many times when siblings are there for me or when I am there for them .  

I love the great joy that is shared amongst us when we celebrate life events that are of Him.  In encouraging each other in the hardships, trials and tribulations.  The accountability that is there during temptations and valleys.  To help each other along in our journey of intimacy in Him.  To lift each other up in prayer, to lean on each others shoulders, and at times to even cry upon them.  

I love the reassuring hug, the pat on the back, the twinkle in the glad eyes when seeing each other.  Delighting in each others company.  Exchanging words or sometimes just sharing a space.  These are just some of the acts of His Loving us through one another.

The thankfulness I have in how He opened my eyes to see what a treasury of family He has blessed me with.  Knowing we are not holy things, but His holy children.  Precious to Him and to each other. 

Happy Valentine's Day.  No greater gift than The Love He pours down upon us.

"Even When We Wallow" - 02/13/17 - Numbers 5-6

 

"Also, for the duration of the consecration to God, you must not go near a corpse." (6:6)

In Christ, we are consecrated for the whole of our lives.  

Unless we chose to leave, going near the corpse of sin and remaining there.  

It is always our choice in the steps we walk.  

And even though sin will pop up, we are always protected by The Blood of Christ.   Our ABBA has also promised an escape route from the temptation to sin.  Any temptation.  Each and every time.

It is always our choice to run away from the temptations or stop and entertain sin in our life.  

How often the human race brings to mind our Newf, Neko.  He used to drag up the carcass of dead animals he had found in the woods and absolutely loved to wallow in the stench and decay.  Covering himself with the filth and scent.  And it always took everything I had to get him away from it. 


What we cover our minds with is what is in our hearts. 



Consecrated. 
It is our choice to put into ourselves His Truth or the world.  

Through Christ we have each been given The Helper.  Protecting us, fortifying us, enabling us to fight against the attacks of sin in the spiritual warfare surrounding us.  As long as we follow His lead, we remain outside of sin.  

Walking in this world we have/do/will mess up.  In Scripture, Paul tells us how often he fought and lost in the battle of turning temptation into sin.  And just as Paul did, we all will stop to wallow in the stench and decay.  Just as Neko did.  

Even though He has covered us with His blood, making us Holy in the eyes of our Father, He did not remove our free choice.   He doesn't kick us out nor does He turn away from us.   Each and every time, it is us who moves to sin.  

It is us who goes to the carcass of sin.  

In a way that I can not comprehend, His love for each one of us covers the times we do turn away and then return back to Him.  His arms are always open in forgiveness, grace and mercy upon receiving our repenting heart.  

It amazes me how through Christ we are a sweet smell to Him, even after wallowing in sin.  

How only His blood has made those in Him as white as snow. 

"His Priest" - 02/12/17 - Numbers 3-4

Protect them so they will live and not die when they come near the most holy things. To protect them, Aaron and his sons are to precede them into the Sanctuary and assign each man his task and what he is to carry. (4:17-18)

 

All that Christ did for us so we may crawl up into our Daddy's lap.  So we may be in an intimate relationship with the Holy of Holy.  Protected.

Because of Him,  we are  now the Sanctuary in which His Holy Spirit lives.  Our helper.  

He preceded us so we may come near The Most Holy.  

Our Daddy.  Our Abba.  OurFather.  

He has assigned all of His a task through The Great Commission from Christ  ^"As I go, as I live,  make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of The Father and The Son and The Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19)

How are we at carrying it out.  How have we changed through each season we are in?  Is there more of an urgency "as we go"?  Are we so "in" love with Him  - that with everything we are - it is to please Him?  Are we watching, at the ready, to respond as Christ when a "Divine Appointment" is set before us?  Are we honored and blessed with how He uses us or do we react by grumbling?  Do we utilize our gifts and talents for Him?  For His Kingdom?  Do we see Him everywhere about us? 

Or is "as I go" all about "me"?

Christ preceded us.  He did this by giving His life.  He became the ultimate sacrifice for each and every one of us.  

I stand before Him knowing that the answer to those questions is often revolved around "me".  "My" wants.  Staying in "my" comfort zone while enjoying His blessings.  

How selfish and unlovely of "me".  

May our hearts Love as His does.  May our eyes identify and may our hands reach out to those who are lost.  May our hearts break for what breaks His.  

May we, His priest, always and in all ways,  watch and be at the ready as He uses "us" to make Disciples.

"as we go"  

"as we live".

"His Order" - 02/11/17 - Numbers 1-2

"The People of Israel did everything the way God commanded Moses: They camped under their respective flags; they marched by tribe with their ancestral families."(2:34)

There is such an order about God. The way He has designed everything.

Everything.

Every single thing.

This wasn't some rag tag group of over 603,550 people. They were organized. In order. I can only imagine what this sea of people looked like from afar. The gold, jewels, their clothes, shoes that never wore out. All being led by a pillar of fire at night and a cloud in the day.

And still the people had a choice. 

As do we. 

To do everything the way God commanded.

For it is His way or the highway so to speak. 

Or  on our own. 

Either away from His care - or under His wing in the palm of His hand.

My life -  How well ordered is it? I strive to be a good steward of all He has blessed me with.  It is so I may be at the ready, but I am tired of losing precious time looking for "something" or taking care of all the excess "stuff". 

Stuff can be such a burden when not organized, sorted through and casting out what is not needed or used. I don't imagine the Israelites had a lot of "stuff" to load around. Reminds me of the wagon trains that headed west. Upon leaving they took so many "things" they couldn't live without, only having to leave it along the trail on their journey. I don't want to continue my journey with "stuff" I think I can't live without only to realize when it is too late,  I've been carrying all the wrong "stuff".

 I want my "stuff" to be about Him - eternity - love.

Most importantly is our spiritual life.  How well ordered is it?  I love how He transforms our hearts while going through His word.  Setting our priorities, living, being as He desires.

Being organized - order in life. So like the universe He created. He created for six days and Sabbath on the seventh. Do we "create" six days and Sabbath on the seventh? Do we Sabbath everyday?  Doing this isn't just a blessing for ourselves, it richness our relationship with Him and our relationships with everyone and everything.

I love how His Scripture is so alive.
How it all corresponds within itself.
How His Word gives order to the all of our lives.

"The Cancer of Sin" -02/10/17 - Leviticus 26-27

“No human who has been devoted to destruction can be redeemed. He must be put to death." (27:29)...

Does this scare you? I mean scare you in such a way that you feel you will lose control of your bowels? It needs to. 

Because of free will we decide who we are devoted to. 

Him or self. 
Him = eternal life. self = eternal damnation. 
Living apart from Him now = eternity apart from Him when we die. 

What are you devoted to?

It seems at times when we read God's laws, they seem harsh and unforgiving. But God doesn't just "zap" you. He teaches you first. 

Before the people were instructed to stone a person, the laws had been presented to everyone. It is the destructive ones who blatantly sin before God and His people who are to be stoned. If God continually moves the line in the sand, then the cancer of sin would grow and take over everyone. And everyone would take the ways of sin into their hearts. 

The key word in this verse is "devoted". It is those who are not serving God, they desire to bring destruction upon all.

I often wonder what our society would be like today if there wasn't the three strike rule. If a person who killed or raped another was executed instead of having their hand slapped. Would pedophiles be so bold if they were taken out and stoned instead of (maybe) going to jail and then released into society. Studies show there are many person who repeatedly commit crimes because the sentence really didn't affect them.

I am thinking stoning would.

Then I wonder if I would feel this way if it were one of our sons. 

As an obedient servant of God, I would have to. 

There would have to be a point where I sacrifice my child for the sake of those he is destroying. How hard it would be to do this, particularly if I were ordered to throw stones too. How do you remove yourself from your own flesh and blood? When their desire is not of God, does that change how we look upon them? Every one who sins is some mothers child. At one time they were carried under a mothers heart. 

We are called to love all. How do you love someone who rapes and beats an innocent child? How do you look past the sin and love that person. 

How does our ABBA do this.

Only through Christ. 

God so loved the world - that means sinners - so much He gave His only Son. So we may have everlasting life with Him. 

When a person "devotes" their lives to destruction, they still have to face the consequences of their actions. And how this hurts the heart of our Lord. He wants all to be saved. He didn't give His Son for a few, but all and as long as there is breath, there is hope.  For the moment a person repents and accepts Jesus as their Savior, they are His.  No matter the sin.  Or sins.  

My question is - are we going to be held responsible because we have continually moved the line in the sand, allowing those devoted to destruction to continue? Do we live being responsible for protecting and keeping the cancer of sin out of our family? Do we live intently - with each breath we take - "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,"(Matthew 28:19)

It is through my walk, He has taken my heart and through Him I repent - daily. At times, moment by moment. Because of His Grace and Mercy, I have found it isn't concentrating on "stoning" sinners. Instead, the one sure way of preventing the cancer of sin to spread, is leading all hearts to Him.

"Continually Shine" - 02/09/17 - Leviticus 24-25

“Order the People of Israel to bring you virgin olive oil for light so that the lamps may be kept burning continually." (24:1)


We were discussing in Bible Study tonight the great Commission given by our Savior, "Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of The Father and of The Son and of The Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”(Matthew 28:18-20)


It got me to thinking about how we are all to be a light for ABBA.  A continually burning light.  It made me realize how essential it is to be filled with His "oil".  Always able to burn brightly for others to see Him. 

Each day we are to go and make disciples.  As we go.  As we live. 
Our fruits.  Are they allowing Christ to shine. Are we being a light for Him. 

"It Is Our Own Free Choice" - 02/08/17 - Leviticus 22-23

 I Am God who makes you holy and brought you out of Egypt to be your God. ...

I am God." (22:32-33)


 It isn't our works. Our moneys. Our time. Our talents. Our gifts.
It isn't anything about us that makes us Holy.

It is only through our Savior - Jesus Christ.
It is only through His Blood we are made Holy.

It is our own free choice to accept Him.
It is our own free choice to live a life honoring Him.
It is our own free choice to be head over heels in love with Him.
It is our own free choice to draw nearer to Him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"The Sin of Apathy" - 02/07/17 - Leviticus 19-21

"Don't seek revenge or carry a grudge against any of your people. "Love your neighbor as yourself. I am God." (Leviticus 19:18 )

Have you ever noticed how the media doesn't make it their headlines when a person reacts in love rather than revenge?  I keep noticing the headlines regarding Lady Gaga not taking the opportunity to make a political statement, but instead she entertained during the halftime show for the Super Bowl. 

Why wouldn't she entertain.  That is what she is.  An entertainer. 

So many today are all about revenge.  getting what is "mine".  going along with the crowd and not having a clue what they are "going along with".  On both sides of the coin.  Conservative and Liberal.  Christian and nonChristian.. 

When I think of someone, aside from our Christ, who loved deeply your neighbor as yourself, Mother Teresa always comes to mind.  She loved.  She loved deeply.  And she used her platform to spread the gift of  Love, when she easily could have used it for another agenda. 

I struggle with this. 
 A lot. 
To Love this way.

 I try to justify my feelings. The more I pray for God to help me Love as He does, the more of His Word He sends to me - showing that my feelings of revenge, or the grudge, are not justified. That they are a sin. That they are only serving to create bitterness, anger.

And apathy.

Apathy -Lack of interest or concern, especially regarding matters of general importance or appeal; indifference. Lack of emotion or feeling; impassiveness.

This is totally against God's Word, His way - it isn't Love. 

 Yes, He instructs us to "not cast pearls before swine".  He does say at a certain point to "shake the dust from our feet", but doesn't say to stop loving others.  To stop praying for them.   To seek revenge.  I'm all about the shaking and not casting.  Not one who enjoys confrontation, it is sometimes easy to walk away and not look back.

To develop apathy.

It's The Loving and praying for a person who has rejected us, caused harm to us, who doesn't love us or to those we love that is hard . To ask God to bless them as He has each one of us . It is a fight  thinking after being the type of person they are, we don't want them to have the blessings we do from knowing Him. It can get to the point where apathy seeps in and we don't want to share Him with them. 

 How selfish revenge and carrying a grudge can make us. How it comes between us and Him.

I am so thankful that The Holy Spirit "moans and groans" for His Children.  I am so thankful our ABBA  knows each one of our  hearts better than we do. I am so thankful He knows, even when we fail, we are striving to not have a heart of apathy.

The wall of apathy creates a hardened heart towards a person.  We have our shield up, standing behind a wall we have created so as not to be vulnerable towards their attacks. 

We are not trusting in our God to protect and lift us up.
And we are not trusting Him and His promises.

How like the Israelites on their journey we become. So often, we whine, complain, cry out in fear, want to go back to our "comfort zone". So often, we do not trust in His way, His time, His Word. 

This whole passage today (Lev 17:1-19:37) are laws  He created to prevent us from self-destructing. Which sadly is what we are often about.  Look at our world today - by not living in His way, we are in such a circus of destruction. The economy, the environment, and most of all the state of our minds, bodies, emotions. There is so much evil living boldly in the world.

Because so many have chosen to not live by His Word - His laws.

How much we  need to turn from apathy towards not only those who have hurt us, but to all of those who are lost in this world. 
Allowing Him to use each of us to Love as He Loves.

 

"Our Cornerstone" - 02/06/17 - Leviticus 16-18

"Obey my laws and live by my decrees. I am your God. Keep my decrees and laws: The person who obeys them lives by them. I am God." (18:5)

In yesterday's reading He spoke about an unclean home, "If the fungus breaks out again in the house after the stones have been torn out and the house has been scraped and plastered, the priest is to come and conduct an examination; if the fungus has spread, it is a malignant fungus. The house is unclean. The house has to be demolished—its stones, wood, and plaster are to be removed to the garbage dump outside the city." (14"43-47)

         Our hearts. 


As His child, it is where He lives.  How often has a fungus been introduced  we allow to take over.  To cause an uncleanliness in our heart because we didn't tear it away from us? 

 

What we put into our heart is what we become. 

 

 

 

Until we die, there will always be a fight against the "fungus".  Of serving Him or serving "self".  He has promised us there isn't one temptation we will encounter where He hasn't provided a route of escape. 

And still - there are times - when we will stay right there and submit to the temptation.

And the fungus will be introduced, again. 

Each winter during our down time, I have the goal of reorganizing and purging our home of items  we no longer use.  Items, papers, just stuff that has been sitting in drawers, shelves, etc., gathering dust and taking up space.  Some of these items I discard because they are no longer any use to us, but some I find I have held onto because I was getting my "worth" from them.  Some items were only here because of sentimental reasons or as a way of being a part of a relationship or person. 

 

I go into this purging thinking that one day I will be gone and I do not want Curt and the kids to be consumed with sorting through all the "stuff".  I want them to be able to focus on Him and each other. 

 

I try to rid our home of the "fungus" that is sitting unseen on a shelf.  There have been too many families I have been a part of or seen, torn apart because of the "stuff" a person left and how they left it.  I try to remember our Christ lives here and to give Him access to every square inch of our homes. 

 

Homes.

The physical and the spiritual. 

I have learned  even though you cut off the green mold on cheese, you aren't cutting off the roots that have went deeper than what your eye can see.  Temptations we chose to fall victim to are so like that.  The roots will grow deep, unseen, throughout your heart, penetrating into your mind, your life, your body language, consuming the all of you. 

Unless your heart is covered in His blood.  Covered in and through with His forgiveness, grace and mercy. 
It is the "penicillin" so to speak, saving us. 

Sometimes there are "stones" in our heart which must be removed.  They are "stones" we allowed self, or others, to put there.  They are "stones" of lies. 

 

But our ABBA doesn't leave our heart with unfinished walls.  He fortifies them, rebuilds them up with His Stones of Truth.

It is in the rebuilding process, using His stones,  we are able to see our heart becoming more than just a house with Him, but a home.  And there is a difference.  Our home "in" Him - with Him as The Center, creates living a life of Him as The Center.  It is transforming us to reflect Him more and more.  To escape from the temptations - the fungus - the mold. 

 

"Obey my laws and live by my decrees.

I am your God. Keep my decrees and laws: The person who obeys them lives by them. I am God."
Our hearts have to have Christ as The Cornerstone.

Because we really do become what is in our hearts. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"He Always Has A Reason" - 02/05/17 - Leviticus 14-15

"he put the blood of the Compensation-Offering, on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot."(14:28)

Why did Moses put blood on Aaron's right ear lobe, thumb, and the big toe of his right foot?

This question is so beautiful. We should ask for these same things from God today!  Moses was instructed by God to consecrate the High Priest, Aaron, and his sons for their duties in the tabernacle.

The entire congregation was assembled, the priest were washed in the Laver (baptized), they were sanctified, dressed in the Holy garments of the Priesthood. The High Priest wore the Urim and Thummim. They were anointed with oil until it ran down their beards.

Then Moses began to sacrifice animals and use the blood from the animals as God had commanded him. It was put on the horns of the Brazen Altar with his finger, poured around the Altar, some of it was sprinkled.

However, the ram of consecration, was a bit different. Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head, then Moses slew the animal. The blood was collected. Moses then put some on the right ear, right thumb and right great toe of Aaron and his sons, the rest of the blood was sprinkled on the Altar.
The remainder of the sacrifice was offered to God with a piece of unleavened Bread, a piece of leavened Bread, and a small cake.

Each sacrifice was a picture, shadow, and type of the more perfect Sacrifice our Lord Jesus Christ.

The question has been raised, why was the blood applied? It signified the Consecration of Aaron and his sons. It was applied to the right side as this is a sign of power and strength.

Why then to the ear? The ear is for listening.

How many times did God tell Moses and Aaron to do things that seemed unreal? An example would be: Pick up from an oasis with 70 palm trees, plenty of water and move 600,000 men plus women, children and cattle to the middle of the desert. "Did I hear that right, God? Really?" Yes! Why? To prove God's amazing Power, Love and Mercy! He gave them water out of a ROCK! That Rock was Christ!

We need Blood of Jesus on our own ears so we can listen to God!

Why was it applied to the right thumb?

The hand speaks of two things. First, it speaks of Worship. Second, it speaks of Service. Certainly as Priestly ministers they must remember that the SERVICE they are conducting IS WORSHIP to GOD! Too many times this is forgotten and the Service overshadows the True Worship!

We NEED the Blood of Jesus applied to our right thumb!

Why was it applied to the right great toe?

The foot speaks of walking. It is a proven fact that you are horribly crippled if you permanently lose your great toe. You can not walk a straight line. Aaron needed sure footing in the Tabernacle. So does God's people today!

We need the Blood of Jesus on our right great toe!

 (1 John 1:7)

(copied Lena Wms)




 

"I Love" - 02/04/17 - Leviticus 11-13

"he is unclean: he shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his dwelling be." (13:46)

I noticed a message on my phone when leaving the YMCA after Charlie's basketball game.  Calling her back, hearing noises in the background, I asked where she was.  They had just sat down to eat at Village Inn.  Without hesitation I told her we would be right there. 

I love our ABBA's timing.  We were just down the street from Village Inn.  Isn't He the most Awesome!  He knows how very much I love being with my sister and brother in Christ.  He knows our schedules have prevented us from spending much time together lately.  He knew we needed to sit and share a meal. 

I love how He has given us so many sisters and brothers.  Too many to count.  In all different parts of this world.  I love how when we are together He is The Center of  our relationships.  How He grows our whole being through the times of becoming closer, through the sharing of our hearts and lives.  Being vulnerable just being ourselves and knowing - without doubt - we unconditionally love each other deeply.  As He loves each one of us. 

I love how we are able to be together without the masks we put on when in the world.  To be as He made us to be.  Such freedom.

I love knowing - without doubt - because He has cleansed us - we are never alone. 

I love knowing when "in" Him, we are living within the camp and not without.  Not without the siblings He has blessed us with.  Not without the unconditional love we receive from Him through His Family.

I love knowing "in" Him, we will never have to cry out, "unclean", "unclean". 
For through our Savior.  Each of us belong. 
Forever and then some.