Deut. 14:23 - "'You shall eat in the presence of the Lord your God, at the place where He chooses to establish His name, the tithe of your grain, your new wine, your oil, and the first born of your heard and your flock, so that you may learn to fear the Lord God always.'"
Growing up, as my brothers and I sat around the supper table, our prayer before the meal was always, "God is good, God is great, let us thank you for our food, AMEN!" It is common to give thanks for our food before we eat it, but I've not thought much about the location of where I eat food. There have been many times I've eaten in the car, out on the patio, in front of the computer or TV, or in various restaurants. This verse sheds light on the significance of place where food is eaten, not only are we to eat in His presence, but in the place He chooses to establish His name. The promise I saw in this verse is that He chooses the place to establish His name, it is all about Him. We can't go into a place on our own and then pray Him in there, but it is He who does His work in preparing a place for us. Then, regarding food, I'm challenged then to accept those invites by friends who don't know Him, to enter there homes for a meal and pray that while there He will be established in their home. I figure if they have already extended the invite to their home, then God is already at work to establish His name there., and He desires this so that those who reside in that place or who are at the place I eat, will learn to fear/revere Him.
Monday, August 4, 2014
Saturday, August 2, 2014
Promise 50 from Deuteronomy 14:2
Deut. 14:2 - "'For you are a holy people to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all peoples who are on the face of the earth.'"
It just never gets old to me when I read "The Lord has chosen you!" Not only has He chosen us, but has chosen us out of all the people's on the earth. He saw something in you and in me that was different from any others. He saw the holiness that resides in us. A lot of people believe that holiness only belongs to God, God was specific through Moses, identifying His people as "holy" people. He put holiness, righteousness, purity in us; that is our make-up as He designed us. Most people can't see that in themselves, nor feel as though it is possible on this side of heaven to be "holy". Kingdom truth is opposite what the world tells us. The enemy tries to strip us of our identity as beloved and holy sons and daughters. his work causes people to think that they don't deserve a label of "holiness" as they engage in unholy activities,. But holiness is the stamp God put on us in who we "are", not in what we "do." The Holy Spirit's work in us, helps us strip away or peel back the unholy acts that we do so that the real holy us may be revealed. We are a holy people for whom God chose as His own.
It just never gets old to me when I read "The Lord has chosen you!" Not only has He chosen us, but has chosen us out of all the people's on the earth. He saw something in you and in me that was different from any others. He saw the holiness that resides in us. A lot of people believe that holiness only belongs to God, God was specific through Moses, identifying His people as "holy" people. He put holiness, righteousness, purity in us; that is our make-up as He designed us. Most people can't see that in themselves, nor feel as though it is possible on this side of heaven to be "holy". Kingdom truth is opposite what the world tells us. The enemy tries to strip us of our identity as beloved and holy sons and daughters. his work causes people to think that they don't deserve a label of "holiness" as they engage in unholy activities,. But holiness is the stamp God put on us in who we "are", not in what we "do." The Holy Spirit's work in us, helps us strip away or peel back the unholy acts that we do so that the real holy us may be revealed. We are a holy people for whom God chose as His own.
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Promise 49 from Deuteronomy 13:1-3
Deut. 13:1-3 - "'If a prophet or dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes true, concerning which he spoke to you, saying, 'Let us go after other gods (whom you have not known) and let us serve them, you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams; for the Lord your God is testing you to find out if you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul."
The thought of God "testing me" doesn't cross my mind very often. I usually think of temptations to make the wrong choice comes from the enemy, man or myself. So does God allow the tempter or does He cause it? It really doesn't matter. God has put so much into those who seek after Him that I believe He delights to see the fruit of His investment. Kind of like a coach who pours himself, his character and knowledge into his players. He sends them on the pitch (field) to watch them shine. I don't believe God purposefully sets us up to fall. He is a loving Heavenly Father who enjoys seeing His children excel. He knows His children will say "no" to those things that are not honouring to Him, He just wants to hear us say the "NO" so He can smile big over us.
The thought of God "testing me" doesn't cross my mind very often. I usually think of temptations to make the wrong choice comes from the enemy, man or myself. So does God allow the tempter or does He cause it? It really doesn't matter. God has put so much into those who seek after Him that I believe He delights to see the fruit of His investment. Kind of like a coach who pours himself, his character and knowledge into his players. He sends them on the pitch (field) to watch them shine. I don't believe God purposefully sets us up to fall. He is a loving Heavenly Father who enjoys seeing His children excel. He knows His children will say "no" to those things that are not honouring to Him, He just wants to hear us say the "NO" so He can smile big over us.
Saturday, July 26, 2014
Promise 48 from Deuteronomy 12:5
Deut. 12:5 - "'But you shall seek the Lord at the place which the Lord your God will choose from all your tribes, to establish His name there for His dwelling, and there you shall come.'"
As I face another home assignment (written May 29, 2013), there are alot of unknowns, such as, where will I speak? Of course His name is known all over the states. However there are many of our churches who know Him only in third person, not intimately as their Papa God who leads and whose voice they can hear giving direction and blessings and comfort. They know Jesus as the One who did something for them, but not the One who they can have a close loving intimate relationship with, as their brother (Jesus' words). They know of the existence of the Holy Spirit, but not intimately as the One who is active in their lives that empowers miracles all around them by the powerful name of Jesus and gifts them with incredible Kingdom gifts which builds the body personally and corporately. As I go I wait to hear God lead me to the places who will accept His name for themselves and who will truely make His name famous in the land. I do accept His promise however that His name, Jesus, will be made famous here in this place as well.
As I face another home assignment (written May 29, 2013), there are alot of unknowns, such as, where will I speak? Of course His name is known all over the states. However there are many of our churches who know Him only in third person, not intimately as their Papa God who leads and whose voice they can hear giving direction and blessings and comfort. They know Jesus as the One who did something for them, but not the One who they can have a close loving intimate relationship with, as their brother (Jesus' words). They know of the existence of the Holy Spirit, but not intimately as the One who is active in their lives that empowers miracles all around them by the powerful name of Jesus and gifts them with incredible Kingdom gifts which builds the body personally and corporately. As I go I wait to hear God lead me to the places who will accept His name for themselves and who will truely make His name famous in the land. I do accept His promise however that His name, Jesus, will be made famous here in this place as well.
Friday, July 25, 2014
Promise 47 from Deuteronomy 11:26-28
Deut. 11:26-28 - "'See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you listen to the commandments of the Lord your God, which I am commanding you today; and the curse, if you do not listen to the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way, which I am commanding you today, by following other gods which you have not known.'"
Moses is summing up what he has been telling His people. "It is simple, follow God, you will be blessed, follow others, you will be cursed." It amazes me how people, who follow their own way, get upset when their plans don't go well, or they think they "deserve" a blessing from God. When other things become the primary focus and motivation instead of God, then it is an automatic set up for "curse-like" symptoms. To receive a blessing from God or a curse is a personal choice, just as choosing to follow God or not is a personal choice. God is very clear here and always has been through scripture. Those who keep their eyes on Him and follow Him by staying in close relationship with Him, will be blessed by Him. It is that simple. I am not saying that faithful people will not have trials, I am just saying, "Why take the risk?" when you know that you can't go wrong with God in your sights. A blessing or a curse? Which one will you choose?
Moses is summing up what he has been telling His people. "It is simple, follow God, you will be blessed, follow others, you will be cursed." It amazes me how people, who follow their own way, get upset when their plans don't go well, or they think they "deserve" a blessing from God. When other things become the primary focus and motivation instead of God, then it is an automatic set up for "curse-like" symptoms. To receive a blessing from God or a curse is a personal choice, just as choosing to follow God or not is a personal choice. God is very clear here and always has been through scripture. Those who keep their eyes on Him and follow Him by staying in close relationship with Him, will be blessed by Him. It is that simple. I am not saying that faithful people will not have trials, I am just saying, "Why take the risk?" when you know that you can't go wrong with God in your sights. A blessing or a curse? Which one will you choose?
Monday, July 21, 2014
Promise 46 from Deuteronomy 11:24-25
Deut. 11:24-25 - "'Every place on which the sole of your foot treads shall be yours; your border will be from the wilderness to Lebanon and from the river, the river Euphrates, as far as the western sea. No man will be able to stand before you; the Lord your God will lay the dread of you and the fear of you on all the land on which you set foot, as He has spoken to you.'"
God makes a promise, through Moses that where ever the Israelites set foot, that is where He will bless them. But He also defines the borders. When God sends us to a place or puts us in a position, we can claim it as ours. God will be our defender and provider. However, if we step out of the boundaries of where God places us, there are no guarantees of blessing. God loves it when we align ourselves with Him, with His plan and His blessings for us. When we step out on our own without seeking Him, when we "change" the plans out of selfish desire or out of fear of the enemy, there is no guarantee the blessings will follow us. This is not a fear warning but a confirmation of His blessings when we keep our eyes on Him and accept all He has for us.
God makes a promise, through Moses that where ever the Israelites set foot, that is where He will bless them. But He also defines the borders. When God sends us to a place or puts us in a position, we can claim it as ours. God will be our defender and provider. However, if we step out of the boundaries of where God places us, there are no guarantees of blessing. God loves it when we align ourselves with Him, with His plan and His blessings for us. When we step out on our own without seeking Him, when we "change" the plans out of selfish desire or out of fear of the enemy, there is no guarantee the blessings will follow us. This is not a fear warning but a confirmation of His blessings when we keep our eyes on Him and accept all He has for us.
Saturday, July 19, 2014
Promise 45 from Deuteronomy 11:22-23
Deut. 11:22-23 - "'For if you are careful to keep all this commandment which I am commanding you to do, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and hold fast to Him, then the Lord will drive out all these nations from before you, and you will dispossess nations greater and mightier than you.'"
There is power in community. Moses is speaking to the people of Israel as a community; If that community is united as one, having the same mind and heart in loving God and serving Him out of that love, then God will drive out the communities who don't. If the followers of Jesus truly stood united, and with boldness, loved God and walked in all His ways in their homes and business' and sports fields and beaches and... then the land can't help but be transformed. The others who don't love God wouldn't be able to stand against it and will either move, or join in. God will bless the communities of faith who love Him.
There is power in community. Moses is speaking to the people of Israel as a community; If that community is united as one, having the same mind and heart in loving God and serving Him out of that love, then God will drive out the communities who don't. If the followers of Jesus truly stood united, and with boldness, loved God and walked in all His ways in their homes and business' and sports fields and beaches and... then the land can't help but be transformed. The others who don't love God wouldn't be able to stand against it and will either move, or join in. God will bless the communities of faith who love Him.
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