Confess and ....

 Numbers 4 - 5

In Numbers 5, the people are told that they are to confess their sin and make full restitution for what they have done, adding an additional 20 percent and returning it to the person wronged.  What?  People aren't rewarded for bad behavior?  

Confession is difficult when it stands alone.  Why?  Because it causes us to swallow our pride and that just isn't easy to swallow.  So the people were told to confess and then add 20 % more...Wow!

Let's quit rewarding bad behavior and confess our wrongdoings.  Truly it is healing.  The best medicine in the world!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Whose leading you?

Numbers 2 and 3

Today, the words are to lead you just jumped off the page at me!  Read it for yourself it is very clear that God had a set apart  a tribe to lead His people and that is the tribe of Judah which is the same tribe that Jesus is from, so figure it out for yourself!  Who is suppose to be leading us?

Instead, we allow the latest fad, the latest whose it in the society page or the latest elected official that is elected by a bunch of flawed folks to start with (us) LEAD US.  Something is wrong with this world.  We forgot who is suppose to lead all of us and it is clearly stated right here in Numbers...Our Father!

Grab His Hand today and let's turn this world around together because the correct leader will be leading all of us.

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Real thing or bad imitation?

Leviticus 17 - 19

The Academy awards are this coming Sunday in Hollywood.  The Oscar is awarded to the person that pretends better than the other people in the same category.  Don't get me wrong I love a good movie, but it is all about pretending or imitating.  

What saddens me is that our world is being built daily into a world of pretending;  we pretend we are something we aren't or we desire to pretend that we are something we aren't.  Some of you are probably saying what do you mean Debbie it's all about doing better, it's about deserving more, it's about rewarding ourselves for something well no I don't think so.  It's about pretending to be something so someone will like us more, want to be around us more, we aren't sure if they will like the real me, so I'll pretend I'm something else.  It's about approval, but whose?

Today in Leviticus 18:3, God's Word clearly tells us You must not imitate their way of life.  Now here it is referencing the Egyptians that the Israelies had just left and the Canaanites that they were about to meet, but it means the same thing to us!  We are not to look like others.  Christians are set apart by God.  God gives us His Word to live by with very clear instructions; whether it was then or now, whether is in Egypt a long time ago or America now our thoughts and actions should be and are suppose to be different from the world.  

The people from Israel were leaving behind a country filled with pagan gods and they were about to enter a new land filled with idols that weren't real, so God was telling them very clearly do not act like them.  God knew it would be easy to conform to way of life around a person rather than stand out and  look different!  He knew this and He knows this, but He expects us to be "set apart" and be different from the world!

Today, the question that God was asking me and in turn I ask you ~ Are we the real thing or a poor imitation?

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Headed to battle?

Recently, I received "Beautiful Battlefields" written by Bo Stern to review by the publisher.  It was sent for me to give my opinion on and I want to say right off the bat...get it for yourself!  I've already ordered more for the ministry to have for women that are facing struggles, a huge fight, or the biggest enemy you could ever imagine!

Bo speaks from the heart about the illness of ALS that her husband has been diagnosed with and her family is waging a war against!  She is real, she is vulnerable, and she knows she is loved!  Yes, her family is in the middle of fighting a war, but yet she shows such grace and hope in the midst of the suffering.

It touched me in the beginning when Bo shared the scripture that God gave her in the story of Joseph about all the suffering that Joseph went through and how God spoke to her in Genesis 50:20 that it is about many lives, not just one!  Our struggles may be for many not just us!  Think about it!

All of us at some time have allowed this question to leave our mouths or our hearts, "Why LORD?".  It is for many lives to be saved!  Wow, this book just touches you through the pain, but at the same time inspires you to do more, to share more, to allow others to see your suffering in hopes that it might save someone!  Share! Share!

Bo shares hope through a very difficult journey!  She walks allowing her faith to show through the most difficult choices and how they will allow God to shine through each decision they make along the way.  Give yourself a gift that will give you hope to face whatever your battle might be ~ God speaks through this beautiful book written out of love for Him!  Do you need encouragement?  Do you need hope?  Do you need to find the beauty in your battlefield?  Allow God through the words given to Bo to show you the beauty in the middle of your battle!

Honestly, I don't want to give any more of this beautiful story other than get it!  The story shared of her husband taking their son to dinner to give him the news of this battle was so touching and yet so humorous and real!  The honest words of children when faced with such terrible truths definitely puts a new perspective on life!

Sweet blessings,

Sacred or Common?

Leviticus 9 - 11

Easy reading is not how I would describe Leviticus.  It does work on making ones tummy tougher at times, along with trying to understand difficult situations that God disciplines.  I've realized over the years that I've read this section of the Bible it's not about me understanding it is about trusting God.  I don't have to understand I just trust God knowing He alone is the great I Am and I don't determine whether something is right or not!

Again, this morning He reminded me that we are to look different.  We are to act different and if we don't then discipline may follow.  The words that grasp my attention this morning were ~ "You must distinguish between what is sacred and what is common" .

We are to be set apart.  When you think of sacred and common they just don't go even in the same sentence, do they?  Definitely, different.  Definitely, set apart.

It's pretty plain that God expects us to have a different look!  We aren't suppose to be common, because He  looks different.  It's not us, it's HIM!  He is sacred and because of Him, we are not common!

He makes us special!

Worthy? Deserve? Right?

Leviticus 7 - 8

Do you know what words kept coming to my heart?

"making that person right with the LORD" and "making you right with him" Moses had to do some pretty not so fun looking things to make people right with God in this Leviticus reading today.  Moses had to slaughter the bull them take some blood and it goes on and on...

What kept coming to my mind reading this was what Jesus truly did to make all of us right with God!  He went to the cross and was slaughtered for each of us.  Not something a lot of us want to think about, but we must because never are we worthy, never are we deserving, never would we be right without Jesus paying this price.

Today and everyday, remember Jesus!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

God's timing

Nothing like God's timing.  I am always amazed when He shows up with just what I need!  Reminders of exactly who He is...awesome, beyond my whelm of thinking, the Great I AM, Savior, Friend, Father, Comforter and so much more!

Anybody with me?

Today, I am not going to blog about the reading it is totally about noticing God.  Do we notice Him?  He shows up all day long, but do we notice?

Speaking several times lately I've tried to remind people look for Him, share what He is doing, so today is totally about just what He is doing with me lately and then I want to hear about your stories with God showing up!  He does so share them!

Many of you know that I read books and review them on here. It is always amazing to me how He sends me the books I need at the exact moment I need them most!  I receive confirmation through His Word and then through the extra reading that is simply beyond this world!

Presently, I am reading two awesome books!  I will blog more about them later, but the first is a Lent devotional or a devotional that you could do at any time that is super!  It is exactly about experiencing the heart of Jesus written by Keri Wyatt Kent.  I am only through day 5 and I love it!

Keri writes about wonderful ways to practice His Presence.  One was imagining Jesus riding in the car with you, being your passenger.  Another is while eating thank Him for the meal.  When you realize that you have forgotten that He is with you acknowledge Him!  When you begin to get busy, pause thank Him for the moment.  It is amazing how when you practice these simple steps He really shows up.  Go ahead try it for yourself!  It is awesome!

Now for those of you that know me well know that I believe whole-heartedly that this book is confirmation, that I am to remind you to share your God moment stories with others.  People need to hear them, but for them to hear them we need to be paying attention!  He sent me my reminder to pay attention with this awesome devotional.  Kerri put practices exercises at the end of each day that are fabulous!

Now this book was sent to me at no cost to me, but let me just tell you that I will be getting more of them for the Ministry.  I will be purchasing them because it is a great devotional!  I love it and will be sharing more from it!  

So today I am sharing that God sent me this book to be sure that I was being intentional with sharing the way He shows up in my life!  He also sent me another book that is awesome!  It is about "Beautiful Battlefields" written by another awesome lady by the name of Bo Stern.  Bo is facing a huge battlefield and she speaks beautifully to the battle.  I will share more about this as well, but God spoke to me as well.  I am facing some pretty big things not physically and not all mine to share, but God sent me this book.  More or less reminding me that I am always spouting wonderful words about facing your battles and allowing God to use them.  The words Bo received from the Lord that she shared through this awesome book were from Joseph's story and that God's purpose is to save many not just one!  Wow, it was so powerful!  I thank God that Bo was willing to share these words with me right now!  I needed this reminder, do you?

I thank God was the gift of both of these books that were gifts to review these books, but they were also gifts from Him that I desperately needed right now myself!  Thank you God for sending them to me through this process.  I know that you saw me and it just gives me the most awesome chills!  You answered my prayers once again in a surprising way!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Hearing and speaking...

Numbers 7

In the 89th verse, the LORD spoke!

When Moses showed up to listen the LORD spoke!

Do we?

Look at this verse for yourself and see what you think.  If we bother to make the time and show up, if we bother to open our ears to hear, then the LORD speaks!

Show up and see what happens!  

I love it when I do and I just get those awesome chill bumps because I realize just how much the LORD loves me!  We all need the reminder how much He loves us, so don't miss out on your time for Him to show you!

Blessings,

Debbie

Go or stay?

Exodus 39, 40 and Number 9: 15-23

Physically not doing a thing until God's glory moved, imagine it!  You don't plan your next move, you don't go on vacation, you don't move on down the road until God shows you!

I would like to think that we all pray and get our answers about when we make such moves, but looking around and watching well ~ I don't think it's true.  I'm not judging, I'm just watching by the actions taken.  We often times hear such word as go with the flow, get a move on, let's hit the trail and these are just a few that people use or don't make plans just go with it!  Well, the people of Israel waited until God decided it was time to move.

Two things grasp my attention today and are just whirling around in my small brain this morning.

1)  God's glory which defined in the original Hebrew language means splendor, honor, and bright.  So God's splendor would fill the Tabernacle.  Imagine your eyes settling on the tabernacle and God's splendor just filling it up and overflowing!  Wow! Talk about peace filling your soul!

2) The final verse in today's reading from Numbers 9:23 ~ So they camped or traveled at the LORD's command, and they did whatever the LORD told them through Moses.  Set up, go and all when God decides.  It makes sense, doesn't it?  God knows when its best to pack our bags and move from our present situations, but are we listening?  Are we doing whatever God tells us through His Word, through someone or perhaps moving without even consulting Him?

Listening and Watching for His guidance were two valuable things that God was sharing with me this morning.  What about you?

Blessings,

Debbie

Just...

Exodus 37 - 39:31

Powerful words "Just as the LORD commanded".

I read the reading with a little bit of okay what's next I have to admit when suddenly the LORD said, "wait a minute girl this is important.  Now it wasn't a audible voice, but it was strong.  I was struck that God wanted me to get a very important detail yes He is into the details!  

Debbie, are you doing what I commanded?

Well, LORD do you mean every detail or most of the details?

Immediately, I ask forgiveness for the details that I am missing, for the things that the LORD commands me to do that I miss or fail at!  Our lists all look different, but He request things of each of us.  I put the question to you...

(your name) are you doing what the LORD commanded?

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Willing?

Exodus 35  - 36

One word grasp my attention today ~ willingly!  Another was freely, but willingly caught my attention.

What do we willingly give to God?

Wills get in the way of doing what is right is ours?

What are we willingly going to give to God today?

Blessings,

Debbie

Make us? Make us?

Exodus 32 -34

You make breakfast.  You make a cake.  You make a craft.  You make a bed.  You make list.  You make so many things, but never would I think of saying "you make us a god that can lead us."

How did these people fall so quickly into thinking evil?  Oh let's see...left to our own thoughts it doesn't take long before the evil one winds his way of thinking into the situations!  Still it blows my mind that these people who witnessed God do so many amazing things already, so quickly forgot!

It bothers me more that Aaron went along with it!  A leader that said well, okay bring me your gold and let's see what happens.  How often do our leaders allow us to sway their way of thinking into wow you are awesome, you are grand now make us a god.  Please notice the little "g".  We are nothing.  Let me repeat that NOTHING without GOD!  BIG G, BIG O, BIG D.  Big Zippo without the Real GOD! 

It awes me to remind myself daily just how huge GOD truly is!  It overwhelms me with HIS Majesty and HIS Power and it comforts me at the same time!  I love knowing that God is so big that simply put He is beyond anything I can humanly comprehend!  If all Our God was; was a melted down gold cow I would have no hope, I would have no love, I would have nothing!

Daily we make choices and daily it is my prayer that I remember exactly How Mighty God truly is and that this is what I share with others.  I believe as long as all of us keep our eyes focused on the LIVING GOD we are able to get through this journey of life; without we fall into discouragement, despair, and depression.  In order, to smile and shout praises we must believe that indeed God is exactly who He says He is in Exodus 34:6 - 7

The LORD passed in front of Moses, calling out, "Yahweh!"  The LORD!

The God of compassion and mercy!

I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.

I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations.

I forgive iniquity, rebellion and sin.

But I do not excuse the guilty.

I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren.

the entire family is affected-

even children in the third and forth generations."

Now this is the LORD that I love!

I leave today saying how did these people say "make us a god"...yet daily we pass people that serve other gods thinking this will fill those empty holes in our hearts.  Lord, show me these people so we can share what will truly fill the hole, so we can plant the seeds of your Mighty, Living, Love that will truly feel their hearts!  Amen

Blessings,

Debbie

Reminders

Exodus 25 - 28

How do you remember important things?  Do you write it on sticky notes like above?  Do you tie a ribbon around your finger?  Do you keep lists?  How do you remember things?

This morning two important things caught my attention in the reading from above:  1) God is into details!  He expects them to be followed.  Read how detailed He was with all of the instructions on how to build and do things.  It matters how we take care of business even to the smallest detail.  2)  We need reminders.

In the details for how Aaron is to dress and what the different designs will represent God says  "a constant reminder" well I believe with all my heart that is for Aaron and the people.  God doesn't need reminders.  He knows all.  He is all.  He doesn't need reminding and yet we are told that this will help Aaron remember the names of people he represents, the tribes he represents, God knows us!  He knows that we need reminding daily of who HE IS and of who we are.  We fail and need reminding, so He designed ways that Aaron would remember when he looked at that ephod on his shoulder of the people of Israel, when he looked at that chest piece he would remember the people of Israel.  God gives us help in whatever way is necessary and He provides it!

Today what will God remind you of?

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

One

Exodus 22: 16 - 24

How long has it been since you went to a meeting or anything else for that matter and all the people answered with one voice?  Eveyone was in agreement with what was presented and they all answered together the same way?  Have you ever been?

Today, in Exodus 24:3 it hit me that God gave them the 10 commandments the people were so awed, that they responded the same way...All the people answered with one voice, "We will do everything the LORD has commanded."  What a beautiful thought that people could agree, if even for a moment!

Everybody wants their voice heard and everybody wants their opinion heard and absolutely no one agrees on anything anymore, but they did in this moment!  God had their attention and He had them awed!  Wow!  We should still feel the same way awed and at attention to God's desires, but like these people that forget this moment in just a few chapters further we don't stay awed!

Perhaps one of the reasons is what is shared in Exodus 23:33.  We don't think of things that we put before God as other idols, but aren't they?  Anything we put before God is wrong.  The word tells us ...They must not live in your land, or they will cause you to sin against me.  If you serve their gods, you will be caught in the trap of idolatry."  Perhaps this is what happens to we (humans) we allow other things to go before God.  We do not give Him the awe and honor that only He deserves, so their is absolutely no way to respond in one voice!

Let's try something for a minute here...Shout Hallelujah!  No one sees you, (just God is watching you) so shout it!  Shout it again and give God all the glory!  Let's give God the number one spot in our life and perhaps, then we could all respond in one voice!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Who came to your rescue?

Exodus 20 - 22:15

Right off in the reading this morning God grabbed my attention with these words, "I am the LORD your God, who rescued you."...  I do not need any other reassurance!  God rescues people and He rescued me!  Still does daily!

On a cool February morning a few years ago, I woke up to prepare for work at Noel.  It was a regular morning of breakfast, dressing, picking up dirty clothes, straightening up the house, last minute chores and suddenly an alarm goes off and interrupts my life.  It was not on my calendar!  I had too much to do between working at Noel and family fun I just did not have a fire on my calendar!  Never will I forget the dirt, the smells, the horror of memories gone in a flash, but also I will never forget the feeling of being rescued in such ways that I never imagined!  Truthfully, it was God showing up in a way that I treasure the fire now.  It forever changed my relationship with God!

First, it was the firemen that ran into my burning home rather than away from it.  Trying so hard to save my home.  It was just stuff, but they were so caring.  Instead of running from they ran right into the fire!  Next it was neighbors and friends showing up one by one to stand with me and hold me up as I watched my physical home burn.  Family that ran in their pjs to help and keep me from making a really bad decision of going back in the house...but most of all it was God telling me over and over that He was saving me!

It was a moment beyond understanding in a moment of great despair that you realize that God saved you, not any of the wonderful people above.  Oh He sent them, but He saved us a long time ago, but He still does daily!  God showed up in a moment that day that forever changed my journey!  He gave me a letter that told me He was with me on this journey and that He was and is my refuge!

Really a letter was saved in my home that day from a retreat that shared the words I had prayed for when my home started to burn.  Lord, show me you are here with me and I can handle it!  The letter stated this very answer to my prayers and gave me Psalm 3:3 ~  But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.  Indeed He is!

Who rescues you?  Call out to the LORD.  He is there ready, willing, and able to handle anything that you have!!!  Give it to HIM!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Microphone please...

Exodus 16 - 19

Over and over in the reading today people were spouting there opinion, which sounded a lot like moaning and groaning.  Or another word, would be complaining.

God had brought them out of years and years of terrible slavery with the Egyptians, they had witnessed miracle after miracle the moment things were a little bit less than pleasant....loud and clear the complaining started!  Who does this sound like?  Anybody you know?

Is this what happens when you finally have a moment to share about what God is doing in your own life?  Think about it for just a moment: the people all witnessed God part the Red Sea for them to walk through on solid ground and then flow to get them away from the Egyptians safely.  If this isn't enough He provides manna, quail and water still complaining over and over!  Is this us?

Are you sharing the amazing things God is doing in your life or the difficulties that might be in the path?  Are you sharing how He helps you get past the difficulty or the rocks along the way?

Next time you have the microphone share the amazing wonders that God is doing in your life?  Don't know what to share? Perhaps you are not paying attention to what He is doing!  He is at work, but are we noticing?  Then please grab the microphone and share His gifts!  

Hint:  Hint:  Nobody wants to hear the complaining, moaning and groaning they would rather hear the GOOD NEWS ABOUT WHAT GOD IS DOING RIGHT NOW!  SO SHARE!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Get moving!

Exodus 13 - 15

Are you standing at the starting gate waiting for something to happen?  You aren't exactly sure what it is you are waiting on, but you are standing waiting?   Well, today is the day to get moving!

I love the human words that Moses offers to his people found in Exodus 14.  Moses was telling the people don't be afraid.  Wait right here and watch God rescue you!  Well, he meant well, but sometimes that isn't exactly what God has in mind.

Reading a little further God speaks and these are His words, "Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving?"  Oops, even Moses was about to lead the people wrong!  How often do we lead the people wrong?  How often are we telling people the wrong directions to the next adventure?

Recently, either in a Kelly Minter or Priscilla Shirer study this was pointed out and it hit me hard!  I was hit with how often  we might be "being still", when we are suppose to get moving?  How often did we act on our own directions meaning well like we all know that Moses meant well, but he gave the wrong instructions and we do too!  Only God knows our next steps and He is the one we need to look to for the exact right path!

Looking to Him,

Debbie

Baby in the Nile? Yet he is special?

Exodus 1 - 4: 1-17

1 Chronicles 6: 1-3

In Exodus 2, the story of Moses birth always amazes me!  First off all mothers think their baby is the most special right?  Well, Moses mother is no different and she thinks he is special and he must have been because she kept him quiet for three months!  Imagine, how did she manage to keep this baby from crying loudly when Egyptian guards were near by?  How did she manage to hide him from everyone that would take him and throw him into the river?

Then she does the most amazing thing to me, she had been trying to keep this baby out of the Nile river and yet she puts him in a basket and places him there now!  A river filled with big guys like in the photo above ready for their next meal just like in the photo; yet Moses is placed in that very river that she had managed to keep him out of for three months!  Isn't it odd how the LORD will sometimes ask us to place the very thing that means so much to us in the very place we fear so much, so that He can show us that He will take care of our fear!  He will provide the answer, if we just have the faith to do it!

I've read the story many times often times thinking about placing the baby in the river and the awful beasts that resided there, but this morning God provided a new thought that sometimes we must trust Him by placing our fears where we fear the most!  He will provide the way!

Trust God today and everyday and He will provide the Way!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie