Feb 19

First things first huh? We have read before, and now read again about putting God first and not worshipping any idols. Now we read about the first fruits, the tithe and the Sabbath. He wants out best, our goods and our time. Either God is the biggest megalomaniac out there or there is something about giving that is programmed into our being. I think it is that latter.

God isn’t interested in me giving Him what is left over. Whether it is money or it is time, He wants the best and the first! I like that the author (of the Daily Bible) put this section together like it is. When I treat God like one who gets leftovers, He becomes to ME the last priority, which in turn releases me to all kinds of personal dangers and bondages. He is trying to keep His people (me) OUT of slavery! When I release my money, my time and give him the FIRST of it, then I remain in His blessing and have the greatest potential to witness for Him to the world.

Feb 18 - (see the Daily Bible)

The law may seem boring at first glance for us New Covenant believers, but it has such pearls within it. Even though we don’t have to worship at a prescribed place in a prescribed way, it speaks to us that we are NOT to worship ‘however we want’. God will direct our worship as He directed theirs. He kept the Israelites at the Mountain for over a year after the exodus to teach them how to worship Him. Casual worship is still a dangerous thing. It is God we are worshipping! May He direct my worship.

The thing that stood out today was one phrase, “rejoice in whatever your hand does” (paraphrase). How many times, like last night, have I done with dread, the things of life. I was preparing for my tax appointment and hating it. Hey, look at all the provision, the house that I get to deduct and everything else the Lord has given me! Look how I was able to give back to Him and give to missions! Look at all the slurpees I was able to buy! I am so blessed. Yes I know people who make double, triple or 10 times what I make, but I have been blessed of the Lord. I say to myself this morning – rejoice Terry! Be glad in God – be glad that you have so much to prepare for. It only shows God’s great provision! I wipe the scowl off my face – and put on the garment of praise!

Feb 17 - Deut. 9-11

The Lord loves me and wants me to succeed in what He has given me to do. That is what I get from today’s reading. I am in a tough place of sorts in life. Things are different and hard. God is encouraging me to stay the course of His will and plow through this. He will make a way and I will not be beat! Though my insides have dread at times, God is with me and encourages me by His word to lift my eyes up and know that He will do it! I am encouraged today and on the brink of breakthrough!

Nothing I have is because I am righteous, talented or such a hard worker. It is because of God and His great hand! That is the only way that I will keep and enjoy them as well! That certainly includes the material blessings that I have, but even more than that, the relationships I have and the church I pastor. I will fear the Lord my God and not turn away to material gods or success gods or gods of accolade. I will be satisfied with what you give me and love you because you love me and have provided everything I am and everything I have. Thank you Jesus, I love you.

Feb 16 - Deut. 5-8

Laws, laws, laws, and we haven't even gotten to most of them! The 10 commandments, not suggestions, are given again in Moses' farewell address of sorts. The thing that strikes me is that there is life in those commands! God wanted the Israelites to succeed! He wanted to raise them up as the chosen generation. Not only did and does He love them, but He has ALWAYS wanted them to prosper and enjoy long life in the blessings of God.

When God asks of me, when He commands me, when He directs me, it is for my good! He NEVER squashes my fun and enjoyment, except that it would harm me. His guidance in my life is for my good and also that I would live long in the blessing of God. It is easy to look at the hard things that God directs me to do, or directs me away from, and throw an inner “childish fit”. However, if my mind is renewed then I am thinking about this reality; He loves me and wants me to prosper in what He has given me to do. “Though I walk through the valley of death, I will fear no evil because you are with me.” Hard times will come, suffering will certainly be in my future, (especially suffering in my flesh (carnal nature)) but God is with me. “Where you go I’ll go, what you say I’ll say, what you pray I’ll pray.” For His glory and for my good!

Feb 13 - Num. 26

There were 4 tribes that decreased, Naphtali, Gad, Rueben and Simeon. Simeon decreased by over 50% which is more than any other tribe. In fact the whole assembly decreased by a couple of thousand. All of the other tribes increased and almost made up for the decrease of these four tribes.

There is a significant lesson for me here, the parts effect the whole. These tribes didn’t reproduce themselves in the first 20 years so the whole of Israel had fewer men as a result. The other tribes increased, some substantially, but that couldn’t make up for the tribes that didn’t. However, maybe it wasn’t that they had a severe reduction in reproduction, but it was that these tribes suffered under the plagues of God. The most recent plague was because a Simeonite leader brought a Midianite woman to his tent to have sex with, and he past right by the Tent of Meeting to do it! It is interesting that the tribe of Simeon is the tribe that decreased the most. I can’t help but tie these events together. A leader of the tribe of Simeon… Simeon decreased substantially… What I do know is this, that in order to increase (not just in number), I must avoid idolatry (putting things before the importance of God) and follow God whole-heartedly!

Feb 12 - Num. 25, 31

So Balaam wouldn’t curse the Israelites because God wouldn’t curse them, however it appears that he instructed the Midianites how to fight against Israel without the sword. Sex and idol worship. Only 24,000 men out of well over a half of a million died, but I would submit to you that it was only because of a priest who got a little zealous. Otherwise if could have been an end to Israel, or at least a severe blow.

There are 2 things that I noticed. First that the immorality got so commonplace that a man thought he would bring a Midianite woman right by the tabernacle to his tent to have sex with her. There was no fear and no consciousness of God. That is what happens to us when we let a little indiscretion into our lives. Before we know it, it is blatant and our conscious is seared in that area and possibly others.

The second thing is that there is only one thing stops the judgment for sin, or in our case the releasing of the enemy to work havoc on our lives, is a zealous priest who is ready to kill with no mercy. Sex is what the devil loves to use especially on us males. It nearly always leads us to idol worship. The only way to deal with idolatry in our lives is to mercilessly kill it! Whatever is taking the place of God’s rightful Lordship (master of my life), or whatever is distracting me and taking me to that place must be killed! Sometimes I just want to “control” it or “moderate” those things, (like a new material object, TV, stressing out, or even movies that are very sexual in nature) instead of killing them. KILL THEM! If they rule me at all, or titillate my flesh, my response must be to kill it completely.

Feb 11 - Num. 22-24

I love this story, not because of the incident with the donkey, but because of the truth of the power of the prophetic word. Balaam was a prophet of God. He talked with God and God used him because he said what God told him to say. He kept telling Balak that, but it just didn't sink in I guess. "I can only say what God tells me to say."

There are two things in my spirit. One is that I need to be about the business of blessing and to be known as a person, when I bless, a blessing is giving. Second I need to avoid cursing others like the plague, especially God's people. I don't think of cursing like some kind of witch's brew incantation, I think of a curse like, "they will never make it", or "what an idiot", or other things like that. It was said to Abram, and it is true today, whoever blesses God's people is blessed, and whoever curses God's people is cursed. Even if it is God's people who do the cursing.

Feb 10 - Num. 20-21, 33

First, there sure was a lot of camping - glad I like camping - I'm feeling Jewish.

The judgment on Moses seems a little harsh. Moses, instead of speaking to the rock like God said, he struck it - twice! That was a little over the top, but to not enter the promise land?

First of all, Moses not only struck the rock, but he said, Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?" This dishonored the Lord and it sure sounds like he (Moses) had forgotten who was the water provider. When God gave him the command, it was imperative that he do it - as God said! Moses didn't.

Secondly, who am I to question how God deals with people? I am a man - a finite man! I once heard something that was good - my story is my story, your story isn't my story. Moses' life was in God's hands to do as God pleased. My part? Let God be God and deal with His people as He sees fit. (Even when I don't understand it). "Who am I to judge another's servant", or to judge God!

Feb 9 - Num. 16-18

It was 3 people, lead by Korah who inspired 250 others to rebel against the Lord. The grumbling was there in those 250, but it was tapped and drained into rebellion by Korah and two others. That spoke to me about how I can have influence over people to do right or to do wrong. I can inspire people to tap into the negativity that they fight or even give into, or I can inspire them to live free from grumbling and to trust the Lord.

The other thing was that Korah, Dathan and Abiram stood boldly at their tents, after all that they had seen the Lord do! Wow! What really struck me was that their families were with them. Their wives, children and little ones were with them and they stood together in the judgment of God. I am the leader of my family, I have the ability to lead them into judgment or blessing. Those men's families perished because of their leadership! What I do, how I live, how I love and how I serve the Lord is so important to my family. Ezekiel says that the soul that sins shall die. The Lord will not judge my family's eternity because of me, but judgment, cursing, and anything else I bring through my rebellion to God affects them too. What a responsibility I have.

Feb 6 - Num. 3-4

We have so many choices in this society and even in the church. The thing that really strikes me here is that if you were born of the line of Levi, you were a Levite. Your occupation was decided by God. You were called away for His service. Before we think something like, “what an honor”, do we really believe that? If I told you that you were the janitor of the church and that was your job – forever – how would that sit with you? Why were you placed at janitor? Because I told you that you were chosen by God for that task.

I think of how I have felt “trapped” at times. Woe to me if I don’t pastor people and preach the Gospel. God has chosen me and I don’t have a choice except to accept His choosing. As I think through my life of ministry that started at the age of 19, I think of how God has chosen me for this. Sometimes I have taken a “break” from ministering, but somehow God always put me back in the ministry of one sort or another.

The Levites who carried the crossbars may not have thought that they had a super important job. Maybe they were a little bummed that only Aaron and his sons got to deal with the sacred things. Consider this, if one of the Levites who was to care for one of the crossbars didn’t want to do it and said no, what would happen? For one, death would probably be his outcome, and two, someone else would have to perform double duty. If nobody was available for double duty, then the Tent of Meeting could NOT be set up and that is where GOD DWELT! One crossbar becomes important. You are important my friend. Will you pick up your crossbar or whatever God has asked you to carry?

Feb 5 - Num. 9, 1-2

Numbers 9:13 But if a man who is ceremonially clean and not on a journey fails to celebrate the Passover, that person must be cut off from his people because he did not present the LORD’s offering at the appointed time. That man will bear the consequences of his sin.

I have lived that! I didn’t get cut off from the church, but I will tell you that I bore the consequence of my sin. God told me to give my van away. I didn’t. Fear, doubt or whatever, I didn’t give it away, and soon there after it needed tires. After that the cooling system broke down and I have replaced everything! Leaks appeared in the roof as well! Ugghh! The blessing was in the giving, and I missed it. How would we have gotten around as a family? Only God knows. What I know is that I have spent well over $1500 and 90 + hours working on something God told me to give away. Lesson – give when the Lord tells you to give.

The other thing that speaks to me is they are a year into the journey already. We read it and think it’s only been weeks or months, but it has been a year. Why, before God sentenced them to 40 years in the desert because of disbelief is God taking so long with them? The journey only takes a couple of weeks? The answer is that God has to teach them, instruct them, and prepare them for the occupation. I want things so fast. Just plug in the address to my gps and get the fastest route. With God, He often puts me on the walking path instead of the car path and sometimes it takes so long to get there. That is because God uses the journey to ready me for the destination. Oh God help me to enjoy the journey and learn my lessons the first time. If even Jesus had to take a detour into the desert for 40 days, surely I will have some desert time too.

Feb 4 - Num. 3, 8-10

I knew this was bound to happen sooner or later. I am drawing a blank. It is not like there isn’t plenty of meaningful things in today’s reading, but that ahh moment didn’t come. Maybe it was because I am having a hard day, or maybe it is something else. The point I want to get through to you is this, sometimes you read and get no great download to share. It’s o.k. It is rare, but it happens.

To be honest, what I saw in today’s reading was instruction for the church and how I pastor it. Did you notice that the Levites took care of the Tent (church) and Aaron and sons did the ministry. (That is a little general but it is close). The same as Jethro told Moses to appoint leaders, (which he did and they were the ones who brought the offerings) Moses told the Levites that they were going to take care of specific things and Moses and Aaron would oversee it. This brings us to the 2 questions that are screaming at us:

1. Will I appoint and release the work that I need to release?
2. Will you take hold of the task that God wants you to?

Feb 3 - Lev. 8-10

Many things stand out don't they? What really struck me, where I pondered for the rest of the morning was when God said, "Do no leave the entrance to the Tent of Meeting or you will die, because the Lord's anointing oil is on you." Paul said woe to me if I don't preach the gospel. I think there is a correlation.

My life is given to the ministry. I have thought about doing something else, but I think I would die. I am called, I am anointed and the fiber of my being has been prepared for the job/ministry/task that I presently have. I have been anointed to meet with God and minister to the people of this world and the people of the Kingdom of God. I will die if I don't carry out what I was anointed for. There is a lot in this, I hope you can apply it to yourself even if you aren't in full time ministry.

Feb. 2 - Ex. 39-40

Everything was so detailed and wonderfully made – as the Lord commanded. Everything was beautiful and colorful as the Lord commanded. It appears that God prefers beauty instead of “plain”. Where did we get the idea for the priestly garments of today? I digress.

They did everything that the Lord commanded. 18 times it says “as the Lord commanded”. I did a quick search for that exact phrase in the first 5 books and it yielded 57 results. The people certainly weren’t obedient all the time but they followed the exact instructions of the Lord in our reading today. The payoff was a beautiful tabernacle, a place of meeting, a place where God dwelt. More than that, the glory of the Lord rested there, among men – the glory of the Lord!

God will certainly reveal His glory in my life, but if I want “maximum exposure” here is the key – “as the Lord commanded”. The tabernacle is us now – God dwells IN his people and the Word says that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. He certainly reveals His glory in me, but I want more! I want to be His glory for all to see. The way to get there is obedience. I don’t “earn” God’s glory, but it makes sense that He can use a yielded vessel more than He can a rebellious vessel. When am I being rebellious? When I am not doing as the Lord commanded. It is not breaking the 10 commandments per say that I am talking about, it is walking in the Spirit. It is that minute by minute yielding to His voice. It is walking in the spirit of love.

Oh God, may I seek and accept your guidance minute by minute and say yes to your directions – quickly. I want to be used for your glory and I want to display it to all.