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.
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
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.
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Promise 44 from Deuteronomy 11:16-17
Deut. 11:16-17 - "'Beware that your hearts are not deceived and that you do not turn away and serve other gods and worship them. Or the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you, and He will shut up the heavens so that there will be no rain and the ground will not yield its fruit; and you will perish quickly from the good land which the Lord is giving you.'"
It is terrible how quick people are to blame God when things don't go their way. God pours out His abundance with just one stipulation, to love Him with all our hearts and out of that love, to serve Him in the same way. It is our choice, we love Him, or we don't. Then He makes the choice, to keep the heavens open, or to shut them. Yes, God is sovereign but in His sovereignty He gives us the choice of whether we want to receive His blessings. The doors to those blessings are unlocked to those who love Him. They are not available to those who don't. I'm sure many people could put up an argument against this. But Moses didn't mix words, He was very clear and direct. Plus, he told the people to write the words and strap them to their body so they don't forget. It is that simple: Love Him =blessings; don't love Him = no blessings.
It is terrible how quick people are to blame God when things don't go their way. God pours out His abundance with just one stipulation, to love Him with all our hearts and out of that love, to serve Him in the same way. It is our choice, we love Him, or we don't. Then He makes the choice, to keep the heavens open, or to shut them. Yes, God is sovereign but in His sovereignty He gives us the choice of whether we want to receive His blessings. The doors to those blessings are unlocked to those who love Him. They are not available to those who don't. I'm sure many people could put up an argument against this. But Moses didn't mix words, He was very clear and direct. Plus, he told the people to write the words and strap them to their body so they don't forget. It is that simple: Love Him =blessings; don't love Him = no blessings.
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Promise 43 from Deuteronomy 11:13-15
Deut. 11:13-15 - "'It shall come about, if you listen obediently to my commandments which I am commanding you today, to love the Lord your God and to serve Him with all your heart and all your soul, that He will give the rain for your land in its season, the early and late rain, that you may gather in your grain and your new wine and your oil. He will give grass in your fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied.'"
"The grass is always greener on the other side." Is that because on the other side the people love God more and obey His commands? Maybe! When I think about growing up in the church, I don't recall too many sermons on "really loving God." I remember many about the importance of giving our lives to Him, serving Him, being obedient to Him and then all the negative consequences if we don't. We learn about church disciplines such as reading our Bible in a year, going to Bible studies, taking communion and being Baptized, but what about the "love your God with all you heart and soul" part? Our semi-conservative evangelical camp has put the "love your God with all your heart and soul" into the "charismatic" or "Pentecostal" camp. If someone in the first camp expresses their love and passion for Jesus during worship by hollering out the name of Jesus or clapping while singing about praising Him, then you can almost hear the thoughts of those others around the room, "Oh my, she's gone Pentecostal!" If there is only freedom to express my love and passion for my Jesus (as I am commanded, I might add) in the Pentecostal or charismatic camp, then I will gladly pull up stakes and move toward the other camp. We are commanded to love the Lord our God with ALL our heart and soul. Just raising hands and whooping out the name of Jesus during worship doesn't even cut it. Expressing our love for God needs to be within our life-style, in our conversations, how we respond to situations at work, when the kids spill a glas of milk, when we are cut off or flipped off by someone. When we express our love for God in everyday life, then the raising of hands and whooping out "JESUS!" during worship will just automatically flow out and it doesn't matter where you are, if you are sitting in a monastery or in your conservative camp, it will just flow out from deep within and no one can stop it. Then, the blessings of contentment and satisfaction will flow out of His delight!
"The grass is always greener on the other side." Is that because on the other side the people love God more and obey His commands? Maybe! When I think about growing up in the church, I don't recall too many sermons on "really loving God." I remember many about the importance of giving our lives to Him, serving Him, being obedient to Him and then all the negative consequences if we don't. We learn about church disciplines such as reading our Bible in a year, going to Bible studies, taking communion and being Baptized, but what about the "love your God with all you heart and soul" part? Our semi-conservative evangelical camp has put the "love your God with all your heart and soul" into the "charismatic" or "Pentecostal" camp. If someone in the first camp expresses their love and passion for Jesus during worship by hollering out the name of Jesus or clapping while singing about praising Him, then you can almost hear the thoughts of those others around the room, "Oh my, she's gone Pentecostal!" If there is only freedom to express my love and passion for my Jesus (as I am commanded, I might add) in the Pentecostal or charismatic camp, then I will gladly pull up stakes and move toward the other camp. We are commanded to love the Lord our God with ALL our heart and soul. Just raising hands and whooping out the name of Jesus during worship doesn't even cut it. Expressing our love for God needs to be within our life-style, in our conversations, how we respond to situations at work, when the kids spill a glas of milk, when we are cut off or flipped off by someone. When we express our love for God in everyday life, then the raising of hands and whooping out "JESUS!" during worship will just automatically flow out and it doesn't matter where you are, if you are sitting in a monastery or in your conservative camp, it will just flow out from deep within and no one can stop it. Then, the blessings of contentment and satisfaction will flow out of His delight!
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