Numbers 18, 19 and 20 - In Sync (Not the boy band.)

There is so much to say about these chapters. It is difficult to know where to start.

In Chapter 18 we see God's love and provision for his people once again. He calls the Levites to care for the tent with specific instructions. While they are called to do this big job for him God provides for them by giving them the offerings of the Israelite nation. In verse 20 we see the beautiful picture of how they would not have an inheritance because God was their share and inheritance.

Let us just pause here for a moment and reflect on this. God was their share and inheritance. God is our share and inheritance. I don't know about you, but I sure needed to read and reflect on this today.

In Chapter 19 we see specific instructions from God on the water of cleansing. God would purify an unclean person's faith by the sprinkling of this water. This is such a beautiful picture of God's love for the His people.

Chapter 20 is probably the saddest chapter of the Old Testament. Here we see that the people were without water. Once again Moses went to God and asked for Him to provide for the people. God gave specific instructions on what Moses was to do.

1. Take the staff,
2. Gather the assembly.
3. SPEAK to the rock.

What did Moses do?
1. Took the staff.
2. Gathered the assembly.
3. Struck the rock.

Before I go any further I want to say that I have done this countless times in my 39 years on earth.

Here God.
Trust in God.
Do part of what God says to do/Do what I think is best.
Receive the consequence from God.

Moses spent his life honoring God and doing what God commanded him to do yet in this one instance Moses, in anger, hit the rock with the staff instead of speaking to it.

I agree with the ladies in the weekend wrap up. We can stop here and focus on how Moses really messed up and received what I feel would be a devastating consequence or we can praise God for providing the water despite Moses' disobedience.

This passage really shows God's love for Moses despite the anger that Moses showed God's people. God provided the water. He didn't strike down Moses. Moses was doing good for God but for the wrong reason.

So many times I find myself doing this. It really takes discipline, prayer and reflection to make sure that I am not serving Him to gain attention for myself. The glory is ALL God's. In everything he allows me to do to serve him, the glory is His.

This is so hard to read because Moses was so obedient. It seems like there were so many complaints and unbelief from the Israelites. Over and over Moses went to God on their behalf asking Him to spare them.

But ladies, we all know that we are called to be set apart. We are called to follow Him and be obedient to him. Our good works alone are not going to please God. We must listen to Him though his word, prayer, quiet time...We have to be in sync with God to know what he wants us to do in our lives.

I have been out of sync these past few weeks. I am praying that my focus be on Him each day as I rise, all throughout my day and when I close my eyes at night. It is so easy to grumble, busy myself with other things and not be disciplined.

I pray that I will be in sync with my Father and hear his instructions for me.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTDoDA-1lsE

Numbers 17 - A Thankful, Trusting Heart

Watch out toes...

I am just this week dealing with a situation. Something I really felt needed to be done in this situation for me personally and professionally caused more work for someone else in my life. I don't think this person fully understands why I had to do this and probably feels like I put the choice before God and a commitment I had made. On the other hand I can see how my choice made things more difficult for them. Right now there just seems to be a lot of grumbling and complaining about it from both sides.

Not one of us is perfect.

God always provides a way.

So many times I catch myself grumbling. Grumbling is a direct reflection of my lack of trust and faith in God.

As a Christian when I complain or grumble it is like I am telling God that what he has provided is not good enough. I am also sending the message to others (including non-believers) that what I have is mediocre. Not good enough. Less than what I deserve.

Any Veggie Tales fans out there? Madame Blueberry?

A thankful heart is a happy heart. Be glad for what you have, it's an easy way to start.

YES! YES and YES!

Today I am going to be more mindful of my grumbling. I don't want God to hear these statements in my mind and heart whispering that what he provides is less than I deserve.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhcI-HXicwY

Numbers 15 & 16 - Reflection on Sin

Um, wow. I totally don't remember reading this. I know I have before but must have forgotten. What a HUGE reminder this morning that God don't play.

The earth just opened up and swallowed them. Everyone. Women, children, all of the possessions.

I sit here imagining the people who really did nothing wrong but were swallowed up. It really seems so unfair but when you think about it, this happens all of the time.

How many times in our lives do we see innocent people affected by sin.

Addictions - gambling, alcohol, drugs, sex, shopping, food

Crimes - theft, murder

But what about the sins that aren't big now but start out small? Are you glued to your phone checking social media and not investing in those around you? Are you lying to your spouse about the price of something you bought. Maybe you made it more "on sale" than it actually was. Maybe you were too friendly with a co-worker and it turned into "harmless" flirting but led to nothing else, yet. Are you gossiping? I tell you friends. this is has been a HUGE one for me. Since I have left one school to begin another, I really see how gossip really had a hold on me.

Sin affects not only you but those around you. It is easy to see on the news and on true crime shows but we have to look at OUR life and see how our sin is hurting or will eventually hurt others in our lives.

I am so thankful for a God who forgives and shows grace and mercy. I know I will be in prayer right now asking for just that. I don't want to be swallowed up by what now seems like small sin but could become a huge problem in the future.

Numbers 13 & 14 - Mission Trip to Dollar Tree

While I read these 2 chapters and completed my study guide, I do want to talk about an encounter I was blessed to have today.

I will be really honest in saying that we are on a VERY tight budget right now. I know the Lord will provide for our needs as he always does. This is just temporary. We have several big expenses right now and just don't want to over do it.

Today I was in the Dollar Tree. It was pretty busy for 11:30 and there was only one cashier. I kept seeing this one group of teens who had special needs. I had seen them for the first time in the parking lot as I walked in. They were with 2 women. I am not certain if they were adopted, in foster care, part of a group home...All I know is that the women were so kind and patient with them. I watched them as I stood in the long line at the check out, mildly annoyed because they were out of helium and I needed a balloon. 

The teens were so polite, so well behaved. It was clear that they had $1 each to spend. The one boy had some kind of animal figure that would expand when you put it in water. The women was explaining to him that "it is small now, but it will be big later when we put it in water". The 3 girls had earbuds, a water bottle and a journal. As I was standing there I tapped the women on the shoulder and said "let me buy this stuff for you". 

Her face looked confused. She asked me why and I just told her that I would like to pay for the items. Another women directly behind me grabbed me and gave me a huge hug. She said she had just in that moment heard about a subway shooting and that there was at least one nice person left in this world. 

I didn't really say much the entire time this was all going on. One of the teens said "God has really blessed us today". No sweet boy, God blessed me today. I continued in silence which is odd because y'all know I am a talker. I swiped my debit card, paid and simple told them to have a nice day. 

God silenced my talky talk. He wanted me to hear. He wanted me to connect with his people in a different way today. He had provided me with the $14 to pay for their stuff. He allowed me to see that people need me to be Jesus. They needed to see him in me. 

I walked out to my van that has almost 200,000 miles on it, drove away and cried like a big ol' baby. 

While my bank account is not overflowing, my heart is. God provides. He puts me in places where I need to be. He loves his people. Just like he loves the Israelite's who can't seem to get it right.

I am very thankful for that little mission trip to the Dollar Tree today. It was beautiful and I am truly grateful for being there and to have been clearly, without a doubt, used by God in that checkout line. 

Now to stop complaining in my mind about what I don't have and fall on my knees in praise and adoration to Him! 

Numbers 10, 11, 12 - Long Arms, Tons of Quail

Ok, so this is totally not like me to be sooooooooo far behind. I hate having to post messages about not having time to post. The reality is that I am putting other things first. Moving to my new classroom, grad school, my bag business, Facebook, naps...I am just being honest.

But here I am, reading these 3 chapters and seeing what God has for me to hear.

When reading these chapters I am reminded of the complaining Israelite's. Nothing ever seemed to be good enough for them. They wanted good food, not manna. I love, love, love how God asks in 11:23, "Is the Lord's arm too short?"...  And then I am reminded of my own complaining and excuses.

Don't we do this ALL OF THE TIME? We put limits on him and what he can do for us. Ladies, His power is greater that we can even begin to fathom. He had the Israelite people 3 feet deep in quail. That was almost 2 tons of birds! Stop right now and think about your Thanksgiving Turkey. I will give you a minute. Now imagine walking out into your yard and wading through 3 feet of bird. Wow!

I have been limiting God in the area of time management this week. I have been missing His voice, His blessings and the peace that can come only from Him.

Where would we be if we really believed that God's arms were not too short? I am challenging myself as well as you to ask God do move in big ways in your life. But here is the hard part, you have to be in prayer, in his word, in fellowship with him and live your life for him. Daily.

Let's stop limiting him and start receiving abundant blessings from our Heavenly Father.

Numbers 7. 8 and 9 - Alive and Able

This week the struggle has been real. Coming off of vacation, starting new eating habits, really pushing it at the gym and being somewhere by 7:45 each morning has been overwhelming. Not to mention all of the grocery shopping, chores and errands. It is 6:19 and I am asking myself, how in the world am I going to make it this morning?

Today I must look to the Lord for his strength, call on him and ask according to his will. Even though my tiredness and weariness this week isn't really a big deal compared to what is going on all around me, God cares. I think that too many times in my life I feel that what I am facing is not important to anyone but me. Not true. God cares about me, every part of me. He cares about every detail of my life.

There have been so many disturbing stories of tragedy this week. It has been hard to see the good in these events. I love the quote from Mr. Rodgers about looking for the helpers. Even if you can't help in this situation, look for ways you can help where you are right now. As tired and weary as I am today, I will still get up in the morning and plan on volunteering at a local food bank.

Tired. Weary.
Alive. Able.

Have a wonderful day sweet friends!

Numbers 6 - Where do you find peace?

Long ago, back in 1998, a certain sweet husband of mine threw a pillow at me and hit my sweet newlywed self right between the eyes. I want to remember that we were arguing but I am not certain. I do remember wanting a divorce. Yes, it was over. The fairy tale was no longer.

I am not kidding.

I was hurt, mortified, shocked and OVERREACTING.

The truth is that I put all I had into Jeffrey. If he was mad at me my stomach would be in knots. If he gave me the silent treatment, I would beg for him to talk to me. I felt unloved and unwanted when we were at odds. All of this was my own making. I had put all that I was on how Jeffrey treated me and loved me. I had unfairly made Jeffrey a god of sorts. Much of this had to do with the distorted view of relationships I had experienced as a child.

Jeffrey being happy and in love with me validated me. It was where I looked for peace and protection. This was not fair to Jeffrey, me and most importantly God.

I have learned so much about relationships over the years. I have grown so much in my relationship with Jeffrey, my girls, friends and God. Putting my trust in God and finding peace in his protection has become my comfort, not anything anyone on this earth can or could ever give me.

Today I am praising God for transforming that dramatic 21 year old who found her self-worth and self-esteem as measured by others into a women who finds her peace and worth from Jesus Christ.

Beautifully broken, finding peace in Him.