Saturday, February 28, 2015

Saturday, February 28, 2015 [Keesha Sullivan]

“I put no trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame.”  (Psalms 44:6-7)

The psalmist knew who would win the victory for him, and that he could not trust in his own strength.  There are many times that we face trials that are so big that we just know that we can win the victory in our own power. I remember several years ago when my friend’s grandmother got deathly ill. Although she hadn’t fully committed her life to Christ, my friend knew that God was the only One that could heal her grandparent. She called me late one evening, weeping. For several minutes where just cried, and I listened. I figured when she was ready that she would explain what was wrong. She finally choked out, “I need prayer for my grandmother. I’m scared.” 

We prayed and prayed some more. Her crying stopped after our prayer, and she said she felt better. God heard our prayer and answered our cry for healing. My friend shared with me the good news of her grandmother’s healing, and my heart danced with delight. She had turned to our powerful, loving Father, and got to see His mighty hand give her family the victory. 

Lord, please help us to look to You, where our help comes from. Please help us to realize that we have no power and victory without You. Please help us to pray without ceasing and to ask, seek, and knock. We love You Father! We thank You and praise Your name for Your goodness and Your new mercies each day. In Jesus Name we pray. Amen!

Thursday, February 26

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2015

Leviticus 19:1–20:21

Mark 8:11–38

Psalm 42:1–11

Proverbs 10:17

 

 

“Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.” (Leviticus 19:2b)

 

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart

    and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways submit to him,

    and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5,6)

 

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

    and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10)

 

 

As we continue with the many instructions from Leviticus, we may pause to wonder about God’s purposes in “restricting” His people.  Much like Adam and Eve before them, the Israelites would quickly rebel against God’s commands and face deleterious consequences.

 

Importantly, God provided these commands not to restrict His people.  Rather, these boundaries prepared the framework within which they would experience His joy and share a witness of His goodness and character with the watching world.  Their obedience would demonstrate their love for God and His faithfulness to His people, through the blessings He promised to bestow.  We understand from the Two Greatest Commandments – “love the Lord your God” and “love your neighbor as yourself” – that love lies at the heart of obedience.  Jesus echoes these thoughts on obedience’s connection to love in John 14:21. 

 

We may understand more of God’s heart from His law, particularly how deeply He cares for His people.  Jesus may have modified some dietary laws and pointed out that we must first address our own sin before judging that of others.  Still, he re-emphasized the supremacy of love as a precursor of obedience and our responsibility to God and the community of believers.

 

In contrast, disobeying God starts with a prideful attitude, as we must believe first that our intended plans are superior to God’s.  Disobedience indicates our lack of love for God and our assessment that His guidelines do not hold value for us.

 

 

I would like to highlight one of today’s commands in Leviticus 19:33,34:  “When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them.  The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born.  Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt.  I am the Lord your God.”

 

Traditionally, people-groups have excluded and even hated the “other.”  This tendency hearkens back to the sinful nature and the self-protectiveness of pride and fear.  God calls us to take the approach of love, welcoming foreigners as “your native-born.”  How do you believe that we are doing individually and as a Body of Christ in following this idea in the U.S.?

 

When I served as a missionary in Venezuela, I visited a church in Cabimas, on the other side of Lake Maracaibo from our home base of Maracaibo.  The trip to the church took an hour or so.  When we arrived, the pastor and every single member of the congregation welcomed us with open arms.  They invited us to their Sunday after-church fellowship gatherings, which included a huge pot of soup for all to share.  They gave us rides back to Maracaibo instead of our taking a bus for the return trip.  They made a special invite to a pool so that we could play tennis and enjoy a great barbecue together.  Their love for us didn’t seem forced, and everyone jumped at the catch to love us.  To this day, remembering this fellowship warms my heart.

 

When I spoke to the pastor, a humble and learned man, about their great kindness, he pointed to this verse as their motivation.  He had simply studied God’s Word and shared these truths with his congregation, and they lived it out.  Their joy was effortlessly palpable.  They also recounted how God had shown His hand of mercy through healings where finances would not have allowed for medical treatment.  They had simply believed God at His Word, and He provided for His people.

 

 

Lord God, help us to live out Your commands and to demonstrate our love for You through our daily lives.  Fill us with love for Your Word and for everyone whom You have created.  Prepare us to be a blessing for our neighbors, wherever they were born, and to provide testimony to Your goodness and faithfulness to us.  In Jesus’s Name, amen.

________________________________________
1) Blog:                  http://bit.ly/rV1Cw1

2) Facebook:        http://on.fb.me/tc6jkS

Feb. 25

Leviticus 16

Yom Kippur was, and still is today, one of the most important Jewish Holidays.  " Because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you" (v.30) The Jewish Study Bible explains it as the day the people of Israel end their day of fasting and not working with  a sense of security and peace in their knowledge of God. I have come to understand that God wants us to feel that peace that surpasses all understanding and He wants us to rest in the knowledge of Him and offers us exactly that through His Son.  I teach reading to special ed students, and one way we teach to sound out words is to break the word into chunks.  So if you break the word atone into two chunks, you get "at one"  - When we atone we become "at one" with God.   In the day of Moses and Aaron there were rituals involving two goats - one of the goats had all the sins placed on his head before being led away and carried with it all the sins of the people.  It reminded me of the song we sing in worship "Living He loved me, dying He saved me, buried He carried my sins my far away".  All of our sins were placed on Jesus when He died on the cross.  He carried them away, buried them, and rose so we can be "at one" with God through Him.  I grew up observing Yom Kippur but I'm going to be very honest, I never felt "at one" with God after the fast.  In Mark 7 Jesus warns against rituals and celebrating traditions. Following religious practices but having our hearts far away from God is very dangerous.  Atoning has been made available to everyone through The Cross.  It doesn't only happen once a year.  He invites us to fast, pray, and sit in the presence of God - at one with Him feeling secure, with a sense of His peace. 




Randi

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Leviticus 15:1-16:28
Mark 7:1-23
Psalm 40:11-17
Proverbs 10:13-14

I guess I am not one for remembering rules and regulations. I am quite sure that if I lived back in the times mentioned in Leviticus I would certainly be confused by cleanliness. The Lord gave very specific instructions to Moses for the Israelites about proper body care and time periods for return to cleanliness. These instructions were not to be taken lightly.

I really prefer reading the gospels where Jesus points out that nothing outside a man can make him unclean by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him unclean. For it doesn't go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body. It is what we say and do that makes us "unclean" because these actions, words and emotions come from the heart.

Jesus also criticized the teachers of the law and called them hypocrites as it is written: "these people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men."

There is a song by Casting Crowns titled "All You Ever Wanted Was My Heart". If we keep God at the center of ourselves - which would be our heart - then how can we not bring forth anything but good. With Christ in our hearts, there would be much less room for the ways of man and the world that would make us unclean and unpleasing to God. When we pray, the Lord wants our petitions from deep within our hearts where the Spirit should be instilled. Our lips should give glory to the Lord through the feelings in our hearts with sincerity. After all, God knows everything about us. He can see into our very core and there is no fooling Him.

Psalm 40:17 - "Yet I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; O my God, do not delay". This is my prayer for today and all future days. From the center of my heart Lord, you know that I am needy. My strength and hope is in You alone, whether I utter it out loud or think it in my mind - it is coming straight from the heart that You created. A heart that I give to You!

February 23: When out of gas, find a gas station and fill up the tank!

Leviticus 14:1-57

Mark 6:30-56

Psalm 40:1-10

Proverbs 10:11-12

The last few days have made it so clear that serving the Lord can be a lot of very hard work.  The job description in Leviticus today suggests that one has to be, at the very least, (1) a doctor who makes house calls; (2) a butcher; and (3) endowed with tremendous memory and attention to detail.  Can you imagine having to go through everything, and then putting some of the cleansing oil on the wrong thumb?  I don't know how many people reported skin abnormalities, but there had to have been a constant stream of sacrifice at the temple, and that alone would have kept the priests very busy.

Jesus was really busy too.  When He wasn't preaching, He was healing.  When He wasn't healing, He was feeding.  Sometimes, He was doing all three things together.  Did He get tired? Of course.  But what did He do to recharge His batteries?  We see two examples in today's reading - in Mk6:31 He tells the disciples "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."  He understood the need to take oneself away from one's wok, but taking oneself away wasn't enough.  In v45, after having preached to a crowd and feeding them, we read that "He went up on a mountainside to pray."  See, physical rest was not enough; for rest to be complete, one had to be recharged by reconnecting with the Father.  

I don't know about anyone else, but there are days I am exhausted.  And I am tempted to believe that I need to keep on going, to keep on pushing, to keep on fighting.  The truth is, when the tank is empty, the car isn't going any further.  During those times, may I always remember that it isn't enough to pull over to the side of the road - I need to do so at the gas pump of prayer and fill my tank with God's presence and strength.  

Saturday, February 21, 2015

Saturday, February 21, 2015 [by Keesha Sullivan]

Mark 5

     Even though it was about ten years ago, I still clearly remembering thinking that I was going to pass this project with flying colors. I knew that the Lord had brought me into the teaching vocation, and I believed that He would help me to get a good grade/report.  I opened my email and it clearly said that I had “failed”. I kept reading and re-reading the message. As the truth began to sink in, my heart sped up and tears threatened to come. I quickly walked out of my classroom. I wanted to talk with someone. I had a few close friends that were also colleagues.

      I saw one of my friends walking down the corridor humming and smiling. I grabbed his arm and pulled him into another classroom. I told him the news I just received. The tears that had threatened to come started streaming down my face. Of course, he didn’t know what to do except give me a hug. After he hugged me, he said, “Keesha, remember your faith. Remember your belief in your God. He will take care of you.” The tears stopped rather abruptly. My mouth hung agape as I internalized what my friend was saying.  

     I knew that the Lord was speaking through him. My friend did not believe in God, and he definitely did not have the faith that he was encouraging me to remember. In fact, this was the first time he even mentioned the word “God.” I thanked him profusely and walked back to my classroom. On the way, I began to think about the many times that the Lord had gotten me through difficult circumstances. My fear began to slowly dissipate. 

     In our reading today, Jairus had a similar incident happen to him. Although Jairus’s experience was much more serious, God had a similar word for him. Jairus pleaded with the Lord earnestly and said, ‘”My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.’ So Jesus went with him” (Mark 5:23-24). Jairus was excited! He believed that Jesus was going to heal his daughter and that she was going to live. Yet, his world was turned upside down when “some men came from [his] house ... ‘Your daughter is dead,’ they said, ‘Why bother the teacher anymore?’” (Mark 5:35). Within just a few moments, the belief and hope that Jairus had carried was crushed. 

     Before Jairus was engulfed in total despair, “ignoring what they said, Jesus told [Jairus], ‘Don’t be afraid; just believe” (Mark 5:36). Sometimes this is the only word we need - believe…remember Who I Am. “Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit” (Psalm 147:5).

     Lord, as we go through difficult circumstances, please help us to stand on Your promises. Help us to remember to believe in our all powerful God. Please increase our faith, Oh Lord, in Your will and Your way. Even when the news is bleak, please help us to keep our eyes focused on You. There is nothing too difficult for You. We thank You that "what is impossible for people is possible with God" (Luke 18:27). In Jesus’ name. Amen 

Feb 20

Imagine this scenario, it is Sunday morning and Kenny and I are leading the worship service at Grace. It is a beautiful service with the Praise Band firing on all cylinders.  The scriptures are read by someone with a British accent. Even the announcements seem special on this particular day. Then as we head into prayer, all of a sudden, lightning comes in the side door and both Kenny and I are toasted. That would certainly capture every ones attention in a nanosecond.

 

Well, something very similar to that happened in Leviticus 10. Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, are leading in the worship and during worship they are taken out by God.  Our first reaction is one of incredulity. This isn't right for God to exercise capital punishment for some flaw in leading. What's going on here? Whatever happened to "giving it the good old college try?"

 

Might I suggest that God is actually giving us some very important guidance in this story. The most important goal in all of life is to love God and enjoy him forever. And worship is the highest way in which we experience this transformational relationship. God gave some very precise instructions on how we are to approach him. Worship isn't something we just feel. We don't just "wing it" in worship. I am afraid that is what Nadab and Abidu did and it cost them dearly. They made light of their responsibility and because of it, they paid a huge price.  

 

The explanation of what they did wrong is deduced in the next few verses. They were drunk when they were doing their duties. This shows us their heart. They disrespected God and were more concerned with their own agenda than his. We don't make up the rules. God makes them up and he expects us to follow them.

 

In a day when truth is determined by the feelings of "Yummy or Yucky" Nadab and Abihu remind us of the danger of such folly. We must make a distinction between the God we feel and the God who is revealed.  Worship is our highest priority and it demands our utmost obedience. So how will that be reflected in your life this Sunday?  Hopefully we will all learn a lesson from these two fellows and gather together with hearts fully devoted to worshiping the living God.

 

 

--

"Multiplying leaders to change the world"

Thursday, February 26

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015

Leviticus 7:28–9:6

Mark 3:7–30

Psalm 37:12–29

Proverbs 10:5

 

 

“On the eighth day Moses summoned Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel.  He said to Aaron, ‘Take a bull calf for your sin offering and a ram for your burnt offering, both without defect, and present them before the Lord.  Then say to the Israelites:  “Take a male goat for a sin offering, a calf and a lamb—both a year old and without defect—for a burnt offering, and an ox and a ram for a fellowship offering to sacrifice before the Lord, together with a grain offering mixed with olive oil.  For today the Lord will appear to you.”’

 

“They took the things Moses commanded to the front of the tent of meeting, and the entire assembly came near and stood before the Lord.  Then Moses said, ‘This is what the Lord has commanded you to do, so that the glory of the Lord may appear to you.’”

 

 

In Leviticus 1–9, we read about a series of offerings, including their purposes and their implementation.  Before the coming of Jesus Christ, God required that the Israelites offer atonement for the sins that they had committed, knowingly or unknowingly.  The sacrificial system impressed upon them the tremendous costs of sin, as they faced real-life consequences from reducing their flocks.

 

The Israelites’ letter-perfect adherence to God’s commands in Leviticus 9:1–6 stands in sharp contrast to their conduct through the remainder of the Old Testament.  Their rebellious hearts caused them to seek their own paths, ultimately rejecting God as their King.  Judges 17:6 summarizes this reality:  “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.”  This apt description of sinful rebellion addresses many of modern-day Americans’ attitudes as well.

 

Yet, God did wish the Israelites to follow His commands.  First, these commands would set them apart as His people.  Second, God’s presence would accompany their following the commands:  “…This is what the Lord has commanded you to do, so that the glory of the Lord may appear to you.” (Leviticus 9:6)  Jesus also explained that our obedience demonstrates our love and gratefulness for God’s own lovingkindness:  “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me.  The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” (John 14:21) 

 

God’s self-revelation therefore accompanies our obedience.  Naturally, those who do not wish to follow God most likely have little interest in knowing Him either.  The Israelites would show their disobedience primarily by inviting foreign gods to take precedence in their worship, in direct defiance of the first of the Ten Commandments.

 

What place does the sacrificial system hold for us?  I believe that it gives us a great example of God’s mercy to us.  Similar to the Israelites, we deserve punishment for the many sins that we have committed and will commit.  We have fallen short of God’s standards and continue to do so on a daily basis.  In His grace, God has sent His Son to us so that whoever might trust in Him may have the forgiveness and freedom from sin and eternal life.  Jesus promised an “abundant” life for His children, one full of purpose.

We must all approach God with humility, recognizing that it is His mercy that allows us to draw near to Him.  Unlike the Israelites, however, we have an assured promise that God does wish for us to draw near to Him.  His sending of Jesus as our Great High Priest demonstrates how deeply He wishes to have fellowship with us.  Hebrews 4:14–16 explains how Jesus’s once-for-all sacrifice has brought us peace with God and allows us to draw near to Him:  “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.  Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

 

May we draw near to Him and find our joyful purpose in knowing Him.

 

 

Lord God, we thank You for Your awesome provision for us.  We recognize that our sin caused us to become dead, but, in Your grace and by our trust in Your Son, we have received new life.  Thank You that this new life is full of purpose and that knowing You is such a great joy.  Thank You that we may approach You with confidence by the completed work of Jesus on the cross.  Give us a greater hunger and thirst for knowing You.  In Jesus’s Name, amen.

________________________________________
1) Blog:                  http://bit.ly/rV1Cw1

2) Facebook:        http://on.fb.me/tc6jkS

Feb. 18

Psalm 37: 3-7

Trust in the Lord and do good, dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.  Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.  Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.


In this Psalm David shifts the perspective from us to God. We are called to live counterculture. Culture says depend on yourself.  God says depend on me. In the psalm we're being told  to delight and commit ourselves to the knowledge of God's love for us.  The original Hebrew is translated "Roll your way on Jehovah, and trust in Him; and He will work"  (Interlinear Bible) Seeing how all scripture is God breathed, (2 Tim. 3:16) that's a very solid promise to stand on. When we put our full trust in God, He will work. As I read this I pictured myself rolling with no resistance into God's arms trusting that He can take better care of me than I can take care of myself. I spent some time meditating on the verse and felt a sense of peace. It's what Mark Batterson calls ALL IN - complete surrender of all of me to all of Him.  When we are angry, when we worry, or when we try to take matters into our own hands, we aren't rolling, we are resisting and not trusting.  1 Peter 5:7 and Psalm 55:22 tell us to cast our cares on the Lord, He cares for us and will sustain. Jesus told us in Matthew 11:28 to come to Him and He will give us rest.  I don't know about anyone else who is reading this blog but I am weary, I can't carry all that I'm trying to carry.  Lord I pray that the knowledge of Your love for us washes over everyone who reads this blog.  The desire of our hearts is to delight in You, trust in You and watch You work.  We give You all the glory.




Randi

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Tuesday - February 17, 2015
Leviticus 4:1-5:19
Mark 2:13-3:6
Psalm 36:1-12
Proverbs 10:1-2

Getting through the Bible in one year is something that I have always wanted to do.  Of course, I really believe that I should make this an annual event because there is just so much to read and learn in the Bible that one cannot possibly comprehend it in one reading.

With just beginning to read and concentrate, I am amazed at how many sacrifices the Lord demanded in the Old Testament.  Between the sprinkling of the blood on the altar and pouring out the blood of these animals at the base of the altar - did it just burn off or was there somebody who was in charge of the clean up.  But not just anybody was allowed to touch the burnt offerings or they would become unclean.  To become unclean would mean another offering.  It went on and on and these animals were brought to the altar without defect and slaughtered and cleaned with more specific instructions because that would make them pleasing to the Lord.  When we die to ourselves and our wants and needs, perhaps this is what makes us more pleasing to the Lord. 

Then when we switch to the New Testament reading from Mark 2:11-3:6 we find that Jesus is searching for the unclean, the unhealthy, the sinners.  Such good news for all of us today, because Jesus is looking for us.  We can run, we might try to hide, but He will find us.  It is at that point when we surrender and let Him into our lives that the Spirit rushes in to claim us as a member in God's army.  When the Pharisees saw Jesus eating with sinners and tax collectors - he replied to them "Mark 2:17 - It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."  I thank God that I was sick, but through the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, I am healthy and redeemed.

Yesterday I spent time reading the several days that came before mine.  It was peaceful and I asked the Lord to speak to me.  I don't believe I heard him yesterday, but the final verse in today's reading hurt me because it is so true.  Proverbs 10:1-2 - A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother.  Ill-gotten treasures are of no value, but righteousness delivers from death.  I continue to pray for my children and the children of my church community - children everywhere that they may all come to know of the greatness of God and also become heirs to the throne.  I pray that all of our children, young or old, can come to know the peace of the Lord and thereby let their parents have peace as well through their salvation!!!  AMEN

February 16: Desperado

Leviticus 1:1-3:17

Mark 1:29-2:12

Psalm 35:17-28

Proverbs 9:13-18

The NT reading got me thinking, so I did a little research (or what passes for it these days with Wikipedia and the internet) and I found a blog entry by Msgr Charles Pope of the Archdiocese of Washington from July 1 (last year, I think, but I'm not sure).  In it, Msgr Pope describes typical homes in Jesus's time.  About the roof, he writes it "was of real importance in everyday life. It was a flat roof with just enough slope to drain off the rainwater. Rainwater was carefully collected into cisterns or large containers, for in the more arid climate of the eastern Mediterranean every drop of water was precious. The roof of the house was flat and sturdy, enabling people to venture up on it."  While it was nice to know the roof was sturdy enough to hold the weight of several people, it did not occur to me that people depended upon their roofs for that most indispensable of needs - water.  So when those four friends carried their paralyzed friend onto the roof of the house Jesus was in, and dug a hole so they could lower the paralytic to our Lord, they must've known (1) the digging wasn't going to be easy; and (2) there was going to be - pardon the term, hell to pay - when the owner found out how much they'd not only messed up his roof, but his ability to quench his thirst and purify himself.  

It didn't seem to matter.  These five were desperate to put the paralyzed one in front of Jesus - enough not only to leave whatever it was they normally did to provide for their own needs, but to jump the queue (and I know how much that bothers me when I see people doing that), and to destroy property as well in a manner as to put the paralytic unmistakably, undeniably in front of our Lord.  I can only imagine the look on people's faces when the debris - dust at first, then chunks of roof - began to fall, and then the bewilderment and consternation when, after the roof had been breached, they saw a person being lowered through the opening.  I can almost hear them say "are you kidding me right now?"  The indignation would've been greater than seeing Kanye go up on stage AGAIN these last Grammys.  I mean, this just wasn't something one did. 

I hearken back to another story - the story of Mary and Martha, where Martha did what one did when one had company, while Mary sat at Jesus's feet, eager to listen to our Lord.  In both instances, God honored the unconventional - not because it was unconventional, but because it reflected a desire - indeed, a desperation - to get close to Him.  It reflected a faith that their needs were not going to be met anywhere else but with Him.  What an amazing conviction - which, in both instances, Jesus affirmed - first, by telling Martha her sister had made the better choice, and then by healing the paralytic.  

There are so many instances I can point to in my life when I was faced with the same choice - to be desperate to get to know Him, or to do something else.  The easiest, most obvious one, is first thing in the morning, when I get up - when I know the first fruits of my day are better spent with Him, but the seductive call of all everything else that seems so urgent and important makes me think twice.  There are many more instances like it. I pray that God give me - give all of us - the desperation to get close to Him that we saw in the paralytic and his four friends

Sunday, February 15, 2014

When I read these passages about the garments for the priests and the instructions for the setting up of the tabernacle, I am always in awe of the level of detail given by God. The colors of the threads to be used in the garments and the curtain. The precise measurements and placement of each piece and the scripture says that "Moses did everything just as the Lord commanded him." (Ex 40:16)

I have to believe that God supernaturally caused Moses to remember and retain all of these instructions. In my mind, I picture Moses siting cross-legged on the ground with a notebook on his lap, writing furiously as the Lord is speaking. "Wait a minute. Could you repeat that part about the blue, purple and scarlet yarn one more time?". It just isn't humanly possible to remember all that detail without missing something. And I have no doubt that God would not have tolerated anything missing.

So aren't we told that God will never give us an assignment without equipping us to accomplish it? I seriously doubt that Moses felt up to the task of receiving all of these commands and being confident of completing them unless he knew God and trusted in him. I was just struck by how much Moses' faith had strengthened since God first called him to free the Israelites. Remember how he told God that he couldn't speak to Pharaoh because he wasn't eloquent enough and tried to argue his way out it. Telling God to send someone else. God told Moses that he himself would tell him what to say and would also send Aaron to back him up. Moses went but I think he was dragging his feet a bit. And now look at Moses. I don't remember him arguing with God this time. Now he had no reason to doubt that God would be with him. A good lesson for us all.

Lord, when you ask me to do something, help me to recall those many times that you were there for me in the past. Help me to know that in my strength, I can do nothing. But with you, all things are possible. In Jesus Name. Amen.



Sent from my iPad

Saturday, February 14, 2015

Saturday, February 14, 2015 [by Keesha Sullivan]

     I couldn’t help but feel the tears streaming down my face as I listened to their story. I quickly glanced to the right and left and saw my fellow congregants sniffling too. The mother and the father stood side by side as they spoke about their college age son that loved the Lord. Their palpable love for him seemed to seep out through their story, their demeanor, and even their eyes. Their son came to visit them for one last weekend. As he drove back to school, he got into a very serious car accident. These brokenhearted parents drove four hours to the hospital not knowing whether he was dead or alive. They were met at the doors by an officer that relayed the news of their son’s death. 

     However their story did not end with the loss of their only son. They are still alive and raising their daughter. They told us although they are still grieving parents that they are letting the Lord sustain them each and every moment of the day. They let us know that God was the only One that could help them carry this terrible burden. 

     In our scripture, God makes a promise to us to do just that. “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all;” (Psalm 34:18). The Lord promised us that He would be close to us when trouble comes. Trouble will definitely come. This is also a promise. In John 16:33 it says, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

     

     Although we will experience trials, heartache, extreme pain, and grief in this world, the Lord tells us that we can still be hopeful because He has overcome the world. He also says that He is close by to help us as well as to deliver us. 

After the parents finished their testimony, the pastor said, “All I know is that we can either go through with God or we can go through without Him. Those are the two choices.” It is my hope that we all choose the first of the two choices. 

     Lord, please help us to realize that although we will experience tribulation in this world that You will help us through. Thank You for being a God that we can lean on at all times. Thank You for being a God that can provide for all of our needs. Help us to make the choice to always go through with You and to maintain our hope in You. We love You Lord. Thank You for Your promises. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.

Thursday, February 12

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

Exodus 34:1–35:9

Matthew 27:15–31

Psalm 33:12–22

Proverbs 9:1–6

 

 

“Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’

 

“‘You have said so,’ Jesus replied.

 

“When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer.  Then Pilate asked him, ‘Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?’  But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.” (Matthew 27:11–14)

 

 

As Jesus stands before Pilate, He speaks truth to power.  Pilate has only received the power to judge the matchless, sinless Son because of God’s sovereign choice:  “Jesus answered, ‘You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.’” (John 19:11a) 

 

Jesus’s confident and well-deserved assurance in His righteousness stands in stark contrast to Pilate’s moral expediency.  The One from Above stands firm in His will, while Pilate squirms to channel the people’s will and bolster his own standing.  In the end, Pilate accedes to crucify Jesus, even after determining His innocence and finding some resolve “to set Jesus free.  But the Jews kept shouting, ‘If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar.  Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.’” (John 19:12)  The Jewish leaders accused this true King of blasphemy:  for having claimed the eternal “I am” status.  Matthew 27:18 acknowledges that Pilate “knew it was out of self-interest that they [the Jewish leaders] had handed Jesus over to him.”  Pilate even “washes his hands” of Jesus’s death and wishes not to claim responsibility for this popular decision.

 

The Lord Jesus Christ obediently endured this mockery of a trial and the certain condemnation that followed it in order to provide forgiveness to those who would trust in Him.  In doing so, He painted a picture of the rewards of obedience:  despite the pain and the cost, living righteously and for God’s glory will bring about God’s purposes and produce eternal rewards.

 

Have you ever experienced the calm assurance of standing firm in God’s will and His truth?  We struggle and stain to position ourselves where we might fit best, to take the most out of life.  Yet, when we submit to His purposes and direction, we may rest confidently in His provision, care, and presence.  Please note that I am not highlighting the tie between obedience and daily health for its sake alone, but rather these fruit come as a byproduct of living victoriously for the King.

 

As an illustration, consider an upcoming trip.  Often, we rush frantically in preparation for an out-of-town excursion, packing our suitcases, gathering our travel documents, and rushing to the airport or train station.  Yet, once we have sat on the train or plane or car, we may rest, knowing that the pre-set itinerary will govern the next steps.  The itinerary provides structure for the journey ahead.  Similarly, studying God’s Word enables us to order our lives around God’s priorities, in order to travel according to His itinerary for us.

 

Reading about the Crucifixion brings to mind Hebrews 12:1,2:  “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.  And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.  For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”  May we take great encouragement in Jesus’s obedience to His Father’s will, despite the ultimate personal cost:  to persevere.

 

 

Lord Jesus, we wish to honor You through persevering amidst the trials and disappointments of this life.  Help us to remain focused on Your good purposes.  Give us grace to count everything as gain that involves knowing You and becoming associated with Your sufferings.  Transform our hearts and minds to embrace the eternal and to view today’s world from Your perspective.  Thank You for giving Your everything for us.  We praise You and love You, our King.  In Your precious Name, amen.

________________________________________
1) Blog:                  http://bit.ly/rV1Cw1

2) Facebook:        http://on.fb.me/tc6jkS

Feb 13

Matthew 27

As I read our passage today I felt I needed to read this on my knees. These words are the most sacred words ever recorded in the history of our planet. They tell us about a love story so magnificent it has revolutionized billions of lives and caused millions of books and songs to be written over the centuries. There are two vastly different ways to read this passage; we can read this to know the facts about Jesus' cross or we can read with the trembling heart of the old Negro spiritual. There were several truths that caused my heart to tremble today.

The mocking of my Savior caused me to tremble. Of all the scenes of the cross, this one angers me the most. What kind of sick people would mock a dying man? How low and perverted to sneer at one who is laced with pain. Yet we read about the insults of the soldiers, the common people and the religious leaders. They aim their insults and mockeries at him and amazingly he doesn't fight back. In fact, he forgives them. Just this fact alone proves that Jesus is God. No human being could do this. He refused to fight fire with fire.  He fought fire with love. Never has the world seen such love.

The cry of "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani" caused me to tremble. We read these words earlier in the year when we read the first line of Psalm 22. A devout Jew learned the 22nd Psalm for times of great distress and darkness. When they were in such deep distress, this psalm was prayed. This was the sermon Jesus wanted to preach from the cross but he didn't have the strength. So he recited the first line and meant for us to read it. You will see that the Psalm ends with victory. "All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him." This love story is not a tragedy, but a triumph.

And all of this pain and suffering was pursued so that we could be brought into a relationship with Jesus. Like the Negro spiritual says, "sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble!!"

--

"Multiplying leaders to change the world"

Jan 11

Exodus 32

This is an amazing story and we see so much of human nature and God's nature in this account.  Just like all of us have done, the Israelites grew impatient while waiting on The Lord. We have all been in a position of waiting longer than we thought we should have to for an answer from God and they were no different. In their impatience, they took matters into their own hands.  While waiting for Moses to come down from the mountain, they decided to create their own false god in the form of a golden calf. In essence they were worshiping themselves instead of the God who created them and brought them out of Egypt.   How typical, and aren't we also guilty of creating an image of what we think God might look like in order to fit our own expectations or desires. God was enraged and ready to wipe them off the face of the map. I found this part humorous though - Moses, who stuttered and was afraid to go before Pharaoh, now goes before God and begs for mercy for an entire nation. Here's where we see God's nature.  God relents. He changes His behavior not because He changed His mind or was no longer angry but instead to demonstrate His forgiving nature and the love He has for His people.  The relationship that Moses had with God was unique for the time.  He interceded on behalf of the Israelites and not only heard the voice of God but to some degree came in physical contact with Him. I believe the relationship Moses had with God then is the same as God wants to have with us now.  He wants us to intercede on behalf of others, He wants us to hear His voice. We have to ask God, in prayer, what false idols we have put between us and Him. Just as Moses destroyed the calf, we also have to remove anything we worship that is not God alone. That's the only way we will hear His voice. He wants to forgive us and bless us. Oh how He loves us.


Randi

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Exodus 30:11-31:18
Matthew 26:47-68
Psalm 32:1-11
Proverbs 8:27-32

 

I arose early this morning, prepared a small breakfast for my grandchildren, got myself ready for work, and even packed my own lunch.  I left for work in plenty of time and then realized that I forgot my lunch.  Had to return home to pick it up.  Very simple task, yet I forgot.  I think that if I was around during the time of Moses, I would definitely have great difficulty following the precise instructions that the Lord gave him.  Everything in the Old Testament was extremely detailed to make people, things and sacrifices pleasing to the Lord. 

 

In Matthew 26 - I was so hoping that this verse did not fall on my day.  I cannot understand how Judas could turn on the Lord.  Was it just for the money?  How heartbreaking is that!  Of course, we know that eventually his guilt was his destruction.

 

When I was growing up, I had the painting of Jesus praying at Gethsemane over my bed.  I would stare at it constantly and become so sad that one so innocent and pure had to suffer betrayal at the hands of one of his disciples.  Yet it was written and the prophecy had to be fulfilled. Jesus knew who would betray Him, but the treatment by the high priest and the whole Sanhedrin is still too much for me to think about.  I often wonder what I would have done had I been living back then.  Would I have been caught up in the crowd and go along with accusing an innocent man of wrongdoing when He did none?  We would all like to think that we would stand in favor of His innocence, but even His disciples, who loved Him so much, denied Him for fear of losing their own lives.

 

Nowadays many Christians are being persecuted, tortured and killed.  I pray that even in this day and age that my faith will keep me singing His praises, even when confronted by persecution.  We just never know when it may enter our lives or how we will respond.

I am saddened by the horrific treatment that our Lord endured to save us from eternal damnation.  But - He loves us and that is why He suffered.  How can one not look at the cross and be humbled by this sacrifice? 

 

In Psalm 32:5 - Then I acknowledge my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity.  I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord" --and You forgave the guilt of my sin.

 

The greatest free gift of all time - repentance and forgiveness.  No matter what we have done, if we come before Him and repent - He forgives.  Lord, let us all continue to give you thanks and praise for what You have endured for us!  Thank you for giving all your people the opportunity to accept, know and love You!

February 9: Why is this necessary?

Exodus 29:1-30:10

Matthew 26:14-46

Psalm 31:19-24

Proverbs 8:14-26

So I started on the OT reading today, and before long I found myself thinking "why is all this necessary?"  The instructions God gave Moses seem to have been worse than the instructions for a really big Lego toy or a really intricate piece of Ikea furniture.  Putting Aaron's garments on alone sounded like it would have taken longer than some actors probably take getting ready for the Oscar red carpet.  Has anyone even thought about how difficult it would be to sacrifice a bull?  And they were supposed to do it each day - as a sin offering to make atonement.  

Then I moved on to the NT reading, and I found myself asking the same question as I read about our Lord praying in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Our Lord was contemplating a horrible death, a death to make ISIS look like rank amateurs.  And I thought to myself again, "why was it necessary?"

Now don't get me wrong - I have now begun to understand why it was necessary.  Our Lord died for us to remove the stain of rebellion and sin away from us, a stain God in His perfection could not abide in His presence, a stain we could not remove ourselves, that we might be able to approach His throne.  I imagine our Lord knew this as well - but what was interesting was, it never came up in the conversation.  His response to the prospect of a terrible death?  "May Your will be done."

And that is really the crux of it, isn't it?  As was the case when I was a child struggling to understand my parents, and as is the case for my children today; as was the case when reading both the OT and NT readings today - the fact is, I don't need to know why God says it is necessary.  Only that He says it is.  May I always learn to respond, in all the circumstances He permits, however difficult it may be, "may Your will be done."

Sunday, February 8, 2014

Sunday, February 8, 2014

Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief. My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak. (Ps 31:9-10)

Have you ever felt like this? I sure have. Far more often than I care to think about. Maybe it's my advancing age. (Where did all those years go?) Maybe it's the dreary winter weather - so cold and snowy. Maybe it's day after day watching the news and hearing of the atrocities being committed in the world. Maybe it's waking up each morning and waiting to discover which of my body parts are going to give me trouble that day. I do know that there are some days when it is difficult to just put one foot in front of the other.

But the Psalmist goes on to say, 'But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, "You are my God." My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me.' (Ps 31:14-15)

Those enemies can be my thoughts or my fears or my aches and pains. But when I look to the Lord and lean on him, then he will hold me up and see me through. To know that I can go to sleep and God will cause my heart to keep beating and will cause my body to continue breathing with no effort on my part. How wonderful is that? We all get discouraged at times and it's so important to read and hear the familiar stories again and again. Joseph and Moses and Abraham and Job and all the rest. Flawed people who endured many trials and rejoiced in many triumphs. People just like us who questioned and suffered loss and had fears and yet we see how God led them through it all and never gave up on them. It's the only answer. He will see us through.

And so I also say, "You are my God. I will trust in you." Amen.

Sent from my iPad

Saturday, February 7, 2015

Saturday, February 7, 2015  [Finishing Well]

Matthew 25:1-13 (c.f. Exodus 27:21)

Being on the high school track team was fun for me, not because of the joy of my event (shot-put and discus), but because I got to watch the "4x4 relay."  The 4 x 400 meter relay is a race where 4 people each run 400 meters to complete the race (1600 meters in total).  On every 4x4 team, one of the most important runners is the one running the last leg of the race, the anchor leg.  The reason why the anchor is so important is because s/he is responsible for finishing the race.  Week after week, our team worked out every day, building stamina, doing running drills and form exercises all for the purpose of finishing the race well.  

Jesus tells the parable of the ten virgins, among others, to illustrate for us what it looks like to finish well.  The kicker is that we have no idea when the race is over!  So, Jesus tells us, essentially, that we need to live each day as though the finish line is well in view - to be "watchful."  Five of the ten virgins were watchful.  Along with their lamps they had brought extra oil knowing that the bridegroom could return at night.  The other five had no oil to burn.  So the five wise virgins walked in the light of their lamps, while the five foolish virgins walked in darkness.

"I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12)

Many reduce following Jesus to saying a sinner's prayer once, attending a church on Sundays, or doing a few acts of kindness here and there.  This is what the five foolish virgins did.  They had lamps, but no oil.  This is the same as knowing who Jesus is, but never following Him, never really knowing Him.  And what does that mean, to follow Jesus?  It means having a funeral for the god of myself everyday and living for Something, Someone, greater. It means loving when self wants to hate, giving when self wants to hoard, listening when I want to tune Him out...the list goes on.

We are all in the anchor leg of our race, whether we want to believe it or not.  So there are two questions for us:

1.  Are you running?

2.  How will you finish?

"You know that in a race all the runners run, but only one runner gets the prize. So run like that. Run to win!" (1 Corinthians 9:24 ERV)

Feb 6

 Psalm 30:5 Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

 This is the picture of the victorious Christian life. It is the continual struggle between weeping and rejoicing, the night and the morning.
As Christ-followers we have been called to live in both time frames. Because of the fallen world and our own sinful desires, there is ubiquitous "night" in everything. The darkness of this "night" is a scary place ...to be.
When "night" stories are told, they are usually accompanied by heavy hearts and moist eyes. I sense the "night" in my own life as I struggle with new limitations and concerns about my health. But most of all, I am overwhelmed with the "night" when I consider the spiritual futures of my children and grandchildren.
Surviving in the "night" is something every Christ-follower must prepare for. The greatest danger to us is if we settle down in that darkness. If we remain in the darkness, we will eventually become discouraged and it will destroy our faith.
But there is hope. There is a morning to look forward to. Even though we may hurt now, even though the darkness seems impenetrable, God has promised that morning is coming. We will see a sunrise, and when that occurs, we will rejoice. God himself has said that the darkness will eventually give way to the brilliant sun rays of a new dawn.
In the end, God and the morning will win. No darkness on earth is permanent. I pray today for each of you that your morning of joy will come quickly. If you have been weeping and living in darkness, it is time to walk into the SON shine.

--

"Multiplying leaders to change the world"

Thursday, February 5

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

Exodus 21:22–23:13

Matthew 24:1–28

Psalm 29:1–11

Proverbs 7:6–23

 

 

“The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;

    the Lord is enthroned as King forever.

The Lord gives strength to his people;

    the Lord blesses his people with peace.” (Psalm 29:10,11)

 

 

Having provided the Ten Commandments, God now turns to providing practical laws for the governance of Israelite society.  At the center of these laws – and this society – would sit God, “enthroned as King forever.”  God seals today’s passage with this command:  “Be careful to do everything I had said to you.  Do not invoke the names of other gods; do not let them be heard on your lips.”  These words recall the first of the Ten Commandments.

 

God provided guidance to His people regarding justice and mercy.  Importantly, God sets forth the principles of restitution and that the punishment should fit the crime (“an eye for an eye”).  In our human hearts, we may have a tendency towards brutality, particularly in the face of loss.  We also may struggle with the oppression of the “have-nots” by the “haves,” typically to preserve their own good fortune.  God Himself understands where to mete out justice and where to extend mercy.  If we trust our human spirits, we will fall short in this regard, but God through His Word and Spirit may provide direction.

 

Please take note of God’s heart for the “have-nots.”  He urges that the Israelites not take advantage of the widow, the fatherless, the borrower, and the foreigner.  These laws recall God’s compassion for each person and the value of each human life, owing to God’s createdness.

 

Thinking about the law points to an important truth from 1 John 3:4:  “Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.”  God provided helpful boundaries to us through His law.  When we step outside those boundaries, our rebelliousness leads us to sin.  Before trusting in Christ, this sin brought death.  After becoming a Christ-follower, sin damages our fellowship with God, much as poor treatment of our friends might hinder our relationships with them.

 

Modern “wisdom” suggests that each person is ultimately the arbiter of his own law.  We have taken up the utilitarian philosophy of John Stuart Mill, which has translated ultimately into:  “If my behavior doesn’t negatively impact you (or me), then it’s okay for me (and you).”  While this treatment may prove convenient, it ultimately degrades everyone because, eventually, one person’s selfishness ultimately imposes on another’s autonomy and well-being.  Considered differently, eventually human rebelliousness will degrade everyone into lawlessness.

 

Instead, God has created us as rational, moral beings and made us accountable to Him and to one another.  The utilitarian principles discussed above prefer no accountability because it impinges on “do as you please.”  Justice demands truth because we won’t be able to identify wrongdoing without it.  Without justice, we will have further lawlessness.  At the center of an orderly, flourishing society, therefore, sits truth.  We understand from God’s revelation to us, as with the Israelites in Exodus, that God provides the righteous truth that we desperately need.

 

As believers, we seek to model the Lord Jesus Christ, who came “full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)  We should embrace truth and justice but also seek His heart to offer mercy and forgiveness.  By studying the Scriptures as we are doing together, we may become well-acquainted with His boundaries and how to apply His truth in a hurting and confused world.

 

 

Lord God, we seek You today and deeply desire Your truth.  Guide us according to Your wisdom, and protect us from wandering out of Your boundaries.  Help us to determine where to apply justice and where to apply mercy.  Transform our hearts to follow after Yours.  In Jesus’s Name, amen.

________________________________________
1) Blog:                  http://bit.ly/rV1Cw1

2) Facebook:        http://on.fb.me/tc6jkS

Feb. 4

Matthew 23:13-39

Jesus came to teach us how to live our lives by Kingdom principles such as mercy, love, kindness, and forgiveness.  In this passage I think He drawing a definitive line in the sand and calling attention to attraction to religion versus attraction to God.  The Pharisees were so caught up in their obedience and details of the laws that they were totally missing the love of God.  Jesus points out 7 "woes" - or 7 ways to illustrate how they missed the mark.  In verse 13 He warns against not letting others enter the Kingdom and not entering themselves.  In verse 15 He points out that the Pharisees were trying to convert people to be more like themselves and less like God.  Jesus emphatically tells the Pharisees that their traditions mean more to them than God's word and they ignore the importance of justice, mercy and faith.  Keeping up appearances and acting spiritual to cover up sin means very little to God.  So what does all of this mean to us in our lives today?  I would like to think I've learned from my past and my present behavior and attitudes reflect the change Jesus has made in my life.  I guess that's what Jesus meant by washing the cup on the outside only.  Do I appear to lead a Christian life or do people see Christ in me?  This is something that has become essential in my life.  I must admit, I feel very blessed to be a part of a community that is seeking the same goal and moving together through reading The Word to seeing and loving God more clearly.

February 2: The persistence of His mercy

Exodus 15:19-17:&
Matthew 22:1-33

Psalm 27:1-6

Proverbs 6:20-26

Reading today's (ok, yesterday's - and I apologize this is a day late!) Old Testament reading, I was struck by the persistence of God's mercy.  Consider: he'd just freed the Israelites from Egyptian slavery, having parted the sea that they might walk across it, then washing away their foes that they might get away free, and shortly after Miriam sang her song of praise, they sinned, grumbling about the lack of water.  So God gives them water, and promises them that if they obey His commands, He would "not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you."  God basically tells them if they were obedient, He'd take care of them.  Shortly after that reassurance, however, they grumbled AGAIN.  This time, they wanted food.  So God sent quail for meat, and manna for bread - but He commanded them to take only so much for each day, not to keep it overnight, except before the Sabbath when they were to take double, and not to go out on the Sabbath.  So having been provided for, this time they didn't just grumble - they DISOBEYED.  They (1) gathered more than they were supposed to; (2) kept the manna overnight; and (3) went out on the Sabbath.  And yet, despite the persistency of their sin, the Lord remained with them.

That realization is always so encouraging, particularly on days when one might be struck by feelings of unworthiness, worry and fear.  That, despite our sinfulness, we can still sing the Lord "is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear?"  That we know we do not have to be afraid of anyone, even when besieged by an army.  That because of His love we are still able to come to Him, to ask that we be permitted to dwell in His house, to rely on His protection.  This is heartening to think of for myself.  Even more so, when I think of my children, it is a joy and a relief to know that God will be with them - though war break out against them, even then they will be confident.  

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Exodus 17:8-19:15
Matthew 22:34-23:12
Psalm 27:7-14
Proverbs 6:27-35

What would you do if given the opportunity to meet with God in a dense cloud and hear His voice?  I tell you, I would definitely follow all of the advice Moses passed along to Israel.  Just the thought of hearing the voice of God is something that causes me to pause here at my desk in wonder and awe.  Many years ago, my mother used to take me to see movies and especially to Radio City Music Hall.  Initially, she probably took me so my father would not have to babysit me and probably for the company as well.  I do know that I saw many movies and shows with her, but none lasted more in my memory than The Ten Commandments.  I still remember the movie theater, the town and especially the movie (I was all of 7 years old), so you can imagine the impression this movie and God made on my life .  All of the miracles that Moses performed, the burning bush, his hair gone white on the mountain top, the parting of the Red Sea, and coming down with the ten most simple rules from God for a good Godly life. 

Matthew confirms the commandments with the greatest of these being to Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  And the second is to Love your neighbor as yourself.  If we love God with all of our being, it should be easy to love our neighbors and ourselves because there would be no room for evil to dwell within us.  Unfortunately, even given these ten basic rules to a wonderful life, God also gave us free will. This ability to make our own choices always leads us into dangerous waters.  Thank God we can ALWAYS come back to Him because he is the only loving Father when we repent.  Even if we do not repent immediately, He never leaves us alone.  This brings me such comfort, because there were many times when I truly felt all alone.  However, the Lord, in His infinite wisdom has put SO MANY Godly people in my life who are of constant support and encouragement that I know that He sent them.

Matthew also reminds us to listen to the rules of those in charge but do not practice what they preach.  Even in today's world, many in power exalt themselves way above their status.  It is so nice and comforting to know that the Lord loves the humble.  The ones who pray in private and do not show themselves as important or better than anyone else.  We are His children and His sheep - to follow in His footsteps with love, understanding and forgiveness is truly the best path.  This world does have a way of pulling us into detrimental thinking and acting, but if we remember the commandments and the fact that God only wants the best for us you would have to be crazy not to follow.

And there you have it - my interpretation of the ease with which to attain a wonderful life.  Now I just have to follow the rules!!!  AMEN and God bless you all.