Numbers 6: 24-26
May the Lord bless you and protect you.
May the Lord smile upon you and be gracious to you.
May the Lord show you His favor and give you His peace.
God told Moses to have Aaron bless His people with this blessing.
I have given others this blessing since I found it, but I realize that God has already blessed me with all the elements of this Scripture.
God has blessed me and protected me. He has smiled upon me and been so gracious to me. He has shown me His favor in so many ways, and His peace has settled my mind and emotions in the midst of turmoil.
It has truly been said that you cannot out-give God. As I have desired that God would be so kind and gracious to others, He has been so much more kind and gracious to me!
O that I would be a vessel fit for the Master's use!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Sunday, October 29, 2017
Saturday, October 28, 2017
Our Primary Motivation
I Thessalonians 2: 4
For we speak as messengers who have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He is the One Who examines the motives of our hearts.
Our primary motivation for telling people the Good News that Jesus came to save us by dying for us and rising from the dead, is not to help the people, but to lift up our Lord, obeying Him in teaching everyone in all the Nations. We can help them in many temporal ways, showing them God's love; then He will do for the people what we cannot, lift them up out of the miry swamp and place their feet on the Rock when they believe.
O my Father, please search me and know me, see what wicked ways are still in me; show me my sin that I may confess it and forsake it. Cleanse me and mold me, make me an instrument approved by You to be entrusted with Your Good News.
Strengthen me in my weaknesses, that I would not seek people's approval, only Yours, for You are the One Who examines my heart, and You are the God Who makes me holy in Your sight.
It's all of You alone, and You will get all the credit, You will receive all the glory, for You alone deserve all the glory and honor and praise through all eternity.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
For we speak as messengers who have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He is the One Who examines the motives of our hearts.
Our primary motivation for telling people the Good News that Jesus came to save us by dying for us and rising from the dead, is not to help the people, but to lift up our Lord, obeying Him in teaching everyone in all the Nations. We can help them in many temporal ways, showing them God's love; then He will do for the people what we cannot, lift them up out of the miry swamp and place their feet on the Rock when they believe.
O my Father, please search me and know me, see what wicked ways are still in me; show me my sin that I may confess it and forsake it. Cleanse me and mold me, make me an instrument approved by You to be entrusted with Your Good News.
Strengthen me in my weaknesses, that I would not seek people's approval, only Yours, for You are the One Who examines my heart, and You are the God Who makes me holy in Your sight.
It's all of You alone, and You will get all the credit, You will receive all the glory, for You alone deserve all the glory and honor and praise through all eternity.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Friday, October 27, 2017
A Peek At The Golden Age
Psalm 47: 1-2, 9
Come, everyone! Clap your hands!
Shout to God with joyful praise!
For the Lord Most High is awesome.
He is the Great King of all the Earth.
The rulers of the World have gathered together
With the people of the God of Abraham.
For all the kings of the Earth belong to God.
He is highly honored everywhere.
This describes the future, when Christ Jesus has returned to the Earth as the conquering King over all the World, the Battle of Armageddon has been won, and the Golden Age of the World has begun.
Jesus has set up His Kingdom, everyone who has not submitted to His rule has been dealt with and dispatched, all the saints have received our new bodies, glowing like the sun, and the whole Earth has been cleansed of all that has hindered its running smoothly, as originally designed.
O my dear Father, I long for that great Day when my Lord and Savior, Your Son, establishes His reign as King over all the World! I long for His righteous Rule, for the Day love and joy and goodness and the knowledge of the Lord will fill the Earth as the waters cover and fill the oceans and seas.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Come, everyone! Clap your hands!
Shout to God with joyful praise!
For the Lord Most High is awesome.
He is the Great King of all the Earth.
The rulers of the World have gathered together
With the people of the God of Abraham.
For all the kings of the Earth belong to God.
He is highly honored everywhere.
This describes the future, when Christ Jesus has returned to the Earth as the conquering King over all the World, the Battle of Armageddon has been won, and the Golden Age of the World has begun.
Jesus has set up His Kingdom, everyone who has not submitted to His rule has been dealt with and dispatched, all the saints have received our new bodies, glowing like the sun, and the whole Earth has been cleansed of all that has hindered its running smoothly, as originally designed.
O my dear Father, I long for that great Day when my Lord and Savior, Your Son, establishes His reign as King over all the World! I long for His righteous Rule, for the Day love and joy and goodness and the knowledge of the Lord will fill the Earth as the waters cover and fill the oceans and seas.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Thursday, October 26, 2017
To Be Honored By Every Nation
Psalm 46: 10-11
Be still and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every Nation,
I will be honored throughout the World.
The Lord of Heaven's Armies is here among us;
The Lord of Israel is our Fortress.
O my Father, You are the only One Who deserves all the honor. Strengthen me to be still, acknowledging that You are the Great God of the Universe, Commander-in-Chief of Your Heavenly Armies, and You do everything well.
You are the One accomplishing Your purposes in my life and throughout the World. Keep me constantly mindful, moment by moment and day by day, of Your precious Presence with me and in me, my dear Lord. Fill me with Your Spirit this day, that I will see and understand to use each moment of this day wisely, so that my thoughts, attitudes, words, and acts today will bring me another small step forward on that path You have set my feet upon.
May this day bring me and all of us one day closer to the culmination of Your great Plan for this Age, and for all time.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Be still and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every Nation,
I will be honored throughout the World.
The Lord of Heaven's Armies is here among us;
The Lord of Israel is our Fortress.
O my Father, You are the only One Who deserves all the honor. Strengthen me to be still, acknowledging that You are the Great God of the Universe, Commander-in-Chief of Your Heavenly Armies, and You do everything well.
You are the One accomplishing Your purposes in my life and throughout the World. Keep me constantly mindful, moment by moment and day by day, of Your precious Presence with me and in me, my dear Lord. Fill me with Your Spirit this day, that I will see and understand to use each moment of this day wisely, so that my thoughts, attitudes, words, and acts today will bring me another small step forward on that path You have set my feet upon.
May this day bring me and all of us one day closer to the culmination of Your great Plan for this Age, and for all time.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Wednesday, October 25, 2017
Looking Forward
I Thessalonians 1: 10
And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God's Son from Heaven--Jesus, Whom God raised from the dead. He is the One Who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment.
O my Father, thank You for this wonderful promise, that we are rescued from terror. Just as You rescued Your children Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael (Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego) from the terror of the fiery furnace, and Daniel (Belteshazzar) from the terror of the lions' den, so You will rescue us from the terrors of the coming judgment. Whatever will befall us in these Last Days, we will not need to be terrified, as You will give us Your peace that surpasses all human understanding.
Even if we are in the middle of a maelstrom, we may see a thousand fall at our left hand, and ten thousand at our right hand, but it will not come near us (Psalm 91:7). We are not subject to Your wrath, Father, that You will unleash upon the World, as You have already placed the wrath we deserve on Jesus on Calvary.
Father, I do look to the coming of Your Son Jesus from Heaven. Every time I look up and see clouds in the sky, I admire Your beauty You put there, and think of Jesus, coming with clouds, anticipating His return with excitement. What kind of clouds I don't know: Heavenly clouds? Clouds of glory? Earthly clouds, to shield Him from the World's view as He calls out His own? It doesn't matter; You know, Father, and that is sufficient for me.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God's Son from Heaven--Jesus, Whom God raised from the dead. He is the One Who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment.
O my Father, thank You for this wonderful promise, that we are rescued from terror. Just as You rescued Your children Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael (Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego) from the terror of the fiery furnace, and Daniel (Belteshazzar) from the terror of the lions' den, so You will rescue us from the terrors of the coming judgment. Whatever will befall us in these Last Days, we will not need to be terrified, as You will give us Your peace that surpasses all human understanding.
Even if we are in the middle of a maelstrom, we may see a thousand fall at our left hand, and ten thousand at our right hand, but it will not come near us (Psalm 91:7). We are not subject to Your wrath, Father, that You will unleash upon the World, as You have already placed the wrath we deserve on Jesus on Calvary.
Father, I do look to the coming of Your Son Jesus from Heaven. Every time I look up and see clouds in the sky, I admire Your beauty You put there, and think of Jesus, coming with clouds, anticipating His return with excitement. What kind of clouds I don't know: Heavenly clouds? Clouds of glory? Earthly clouds, to shield Him from the World's view as He calls out His own? It doesn't matter; You know, Father, and that is sufficient for me.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Tuesday, October 24, 2017
Discouraged?
Mark 9: 24
I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!
Psalm 43: 5
Why am I so discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again--my Savior and my God!
O my Father, help me! Lift me out of this despondency! Strengthen me to do what is set before me today and enable me to accomplish the task assigned to me. Help me over this hump as You did before.
Thank You for always being there for me. Teach me Your faithfulness in the small things, for it is the small things that make up, compose, the great things.
(I wrote this journal entry when I was in the midst of a great trial time. And God was faithful, as I trusted Him to be, and brought me out of that despondency into His great joy!)
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!
Psalm 43: 5
Why am I so discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again--my Savior and my God!
O my Father, help me! Lift me out of this despondency! Strengthen me to do what is set before me today and enable me to accomplish the task assigned to me. Help me over this hump as You did before.
Thank You for always being there for me. Teach me Your faithfulness in the small things, for it is the small things that make up, compose, the great things.
(I wrote this journal entry when I was in the midst of a great trial time. And God was faithful, as I trusted Him to be, and brought me out of that despondency into His great joy!)
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Monday, October 23, 2017
God's Parties
Exodus 23: 14-17
Leviticus 23: 4-43
Deuteronomy 16: 1-17
God said, in essence, "Come to My House three times every year for a week-long party!"
There were six feasts God wanted His people to celebrate and commemorate, three of which He wanted all the people to gather together to His Tabernacle or Temple for a joyous party.
(1.) Passover is to remember the time God delivered Israel from Egypt, and the lamb's blood was smeared onto the doorposts and lintel of the houses so the Death Angel would "pass over" those dwellings and the people within.
Jesus is the Lamb of God, our Passover Lamb, whose Blood causes the wrath of God to "pass over" those who put their trust in Him to have paid their debt of sin on the Cross. This is the first week-long feast (party) God wanted us to celebrate.
(2.) First Fruits is the Spring Harvest feast. Jesus is the First Fruits of Resurrection.
(3.) Pentecost comes 50 days after the Spring Harvest (Pente means 50), and it was celebrated with bread that was leavened. This is the only feast that does not require unleavened bread. Leaven usually symbolizes sin.
Pentecost Sunday was the day the Holy Spirit fell on the first believers in Jesus as Messiah, so is the Birthday of the Church. The Church is comprised of members who are still living on this Earth, and we aren't perfect yet. This is the second week-long feast (party) God wanted us to celebrate together.
(4.) Trumpets was to be celebrated on the 1st day of the 7th month (Sept.-Oct.). This was basically a concert, with the trumpets to be played before the Lord and the people.
We are told that at the last trumpet, the trumpet will sound, and the dead in Christ will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed (I Corinthians 15:52), and the Lord Himself will come down from Heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever (I Thessalonians 3:16-17). I believe that this feast will be fulfilled at this time, the Rapture of the Church.
(5.) Day of Atonement is the time of the corporate sacrifice for the whole Nation of Israel, for the past year. This was to be a time of mourning for all the wrongs that had been done, and a time of fasting, rather than feasting. This comes only 9 days after the Trumpets, on the 10th day of the 7th month.
Zechariah 14:3-5 tells us that when the Lord returns to fight against those nations . . . This is when the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with Him.
John also wrote about this, in his book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. In Chapter 19 the Rider on the White Horse is Jesus, Who has come to wage war on the Nations of the Earth at the Battle of Armageddon. This Day of the Lord has included world-wide earthquakes, floods and tsunamis that even overflowed all the islands, humongous storms of 100-pound hail, lightening and fire, signs in the Sun, Moon and Stars, the sky rolled up like a scroll, every kind of "natural" disaster you can think of, all happening on this Day.
And Jesus returns to set up His Kingdom on the Earth. I think that this Day of the Lord is the fulfillment of the Day of Atonement, when Jesus has atoned for, bought, purchased with His Blood on Calvary, this whole Earth and the World upon it. He is now the Owner of us all, our rightful Judge. Now He cleansing it of all that evil people have wrought on it, and all the cities and towns of the World are flattened. And all His "holy ones" came with Him: all the Heavenly Angels as well as all His Redeemed People.
(6.) Tabernacles is the last feast of the year, coming only 5 days after The Atonement, on the 15th day of the 7th month. The people were to gather together to construct and build temporary structures to live in for a week, celebrating with a great joyful feast to commemorate their living in tents after leaving Egypt. This is the third feast God wanted all His people to gather for.
I see the fulfillment of this Feast in our living in temporary housing after the Battle of Armageddon, while we rebuild the cities and towns that have been destroyed, rejoicing in being our Lord's emissaries in setting up His glorious Kingdom, sitting on His Throne with Him ruling this World in its Golden Age.
O my Father, I thank You and praise You for Your wondrous works. You have planned out Your whole Great Plan of the Ages, You have laid out Your whole program for us in the Feasts You told Your people to celebrate, and You are carrying out the fulfillment of Time before our very eyes as we live every day.
Thank You for rescuing me from myself and the twistedness of my own heart. You have delivered me from the bondage of deep sin, lifted me out of the quicksand of mire and placed my feet upon the Rock.
You take me by my hand and lead me in Your paths of righteousness, and You never let go. Your joy is my strength, and I will dwell in Your House (Family) in Your Kingdom, and magnify and glorify Your Name in Your courts forever!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Leviticus 23: 4-43
Deuteronomy 16: 1-17
God said, in essence, "Come to My House three times every year for a week-long party!"
There were six feasts God wanted His people to celebrate and commemorate, three of which He wanted all the people to gather together to His Tabernacle or Temple for a joyous party.
(1.) Passover is to remember the time God delivered Israel from Egypt, and the lamb's blood was smeared onto the doorposts and lintel of the houses so the Death Angel would "pass over" those dwellings and the people within.
Jesus is the Lamb of God, our Passover Lamb, whose Blood causes the wrath of God to "pass over" those who put their trust in Him to have paid their debt of sin on the Cross. This is the first week-long feast (party) God wanted us to celebrate.
(2.) First Fruits is the Spring Harvest feast. Jesus is the First Fruits of Resurrection.
(3.) Pentecost comes 50 days after the Spring Harvest (Pente means 50), and it was celebrated with bread that was leavened. This is the only feast that does not require unleavened bread. Leaven usually symbolizes sin.
Pentecost Sunday was the day the Holy Spirit fell on the first believers in Jesus as Messiah, so is the Birthday of the Church. The Church is comprised of members who are still living on this Earth, and we aren't perfect yet. This is the second week-long feast (party) God wanted us to celebrate together.
(4.) Trumpets was to be celebrated on the 1st day of the 7th month (Sept.-Oct.). This was basically a concert, with the trumpets to be played before the Lord and the people.
We are told that at the last trumpet, the trumpet will sound, and the dead in Christ will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed (I Corinthians 15:52), and the Lord Himself will come down from Heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever (I Thessalonians 3:16-17). I believe that this feast will be fulfilled at this time, the Rapture of the Church.
(5.) Day of Atonement is the time of the corporate sacrifice for the whole Nation of Israel, for the past year. This was to be a time of mourning for all the wrongs that had been done, and a time of fasting, rather than feasting. This comes only 9 days after the Trumpets, on the 10th day of the 7th month.
Zechariah 14:3-5 tells us that when the Lord returns to fight against those nations . . . This is when the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with Him.
John also wrote about this, in his book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. In Chapter 19 the Rider on the White Horse is Jesus, Who has come to wage war on the Nations of the Earth at the Battle of Armageddon. This Day of the Lord has included world-wide earthquakes, floods and tsunamis that even overflowed all the islands, humongous storms of 100-pound hail, lightening and fire, signs in the Sun, Moon and Stars, the sky rolled up like a scroll, every kind of "natural" disaster you can think of, all happening on this Day.
And Jesus returns to set up His Kingdom on the Earth. I think that this Day of the Lord is the fulfillment of the Day of Atonement, when Jesus has atoned for, bought, purchased with His Blood on Calvary, this whole Earth and the World upon it. He is now the Owner of us all, our rightful Judge. Now He cleansing it of all that evil people have wrought on it, and all the cities and towns of the World are flattened. And all His "holy ones" came with Him: all the Heavenly Angels as well as all His Redeemed People.
(6.) Tabernacles is the last feast of the year, coming only 5 days after The Atonement, on the 15th day of the 7th month. The people were to gather together to construct and build temporary structures to live in for a week, celebrating with a great joyful feast to commemorate their living in tents after leaving Egypt. This is the third feast God wanted all His people to gather for.
I see the fulfillment of this Feast in our living in temporary housing after the Battle of Armageddon, while we rebuild the cities and towns that have been destroyed, rejoicing in being our Lord's emissaries in setting up His glorious Kingdom, sitting on His Throne with Him ruling this World in its Golden Age.
O my Father, I thank You and praise You for Your wondrous works. You have planned out Your whole Great Plan of the Ages, You have laid out Your whole program for us in the Feasts You told Your people to celebrate, and You are carrying out the fulfillment of Time before our very eyes as we live every day.
Thank You for rescuing me from myself and the twistedness of my own heart. You have delivered me from the bondage of deep sin, lifted me out of the quicksand of mire and placed my feet upon the Rock.
You take me by my hand and lead me in Your paths of righteousness, and You never let go. Your joy is my strength, and I will dwell in Your House (Family) in Your Kingdom, and magnify and glorify Your Name in Your courts forever!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
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