DO NOT

Ex. 23….
** Do not, Do not, Do not, Do not…. Sounds like a old lady in a library huh? I can understand how people feel like God is a God that doesn’t want them to have fun or enjoy life after reading some of the Old Testament Scriptures. However, just try raising kids…. Especially during the first few years of their lives…. (sometimes it seems like the first 20 years of their lives..lol). Do not seems to be the most dominant words that proceed out of your mouth. Why? Because it’s a learning time and yes it’s important not to be just saying No all the time so you don’t crush their morale. But if you truly love your children you will establish ground rules for them to live a happy healthy life. For instance, no you can’t put that fork in the electric outlet, no you can’t jump off the top of our two story house using a sheet as a parachute! . …. God new we needed rules for our protection and because He loved us so much, he set rules in our lives so we can live safe and happy and long lives. So we have a choice here. We can either choose to believe that He is a God that is no fun and wants us to live miserable lives by stopping us with rules OR we can believe that there is a God who loves us so much that not only did He set certain boundaries in our lives to protect us so we can live long fruitful and happy lives but also sent His only Son Jesus Christ to die for all the times we didn’t obey the rules. I don’t know about you…. I choose the latter

HOLD HANDS UP

Ex 17:10-13

10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up — one on one side, one on the other — so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. NIV
** This is an amazing story! Every time I read it, it reminds me that we all need someone who can stand beside us and help and encourage us when there are battles in our lives. Many people face battles in their lives frequently and they all have to face those battles along or with the help of good people who will believe in them and will hold their hands up during those times when they can’t hold their hands up anymore by themselves. I have people in my life like that, do you? We cannot fight our battles on our own. Even when Moses’ father in law came and saw that Moses was doing all the work of judging by himself, Jethro told Moses that he would soon wear himself out if he continued doing it by himself. So next time you get ready to face that battle or you have that great task to accomplish, look beside you and see if you can find anyone who will stand next to you and be ready to hold your hands up if and when you get tired.

JUST MONDAY

The more you know a person, the more you know what you can expect from them. Many of us when we first meet a new person or friend, we begin the process of getting to know them and so we spend time listening to their lives and all their likes and dis-likes. Just because you’ve painted a picture of what they do and what you think they should be like, doesn’t mean that is the way they are…. See the story below:
** It was the kindergarten teacher's birthday and the students decided that they would each buy their teacher a gift.
The first student, whose parents own a florist shop, gave her a present. She held it and said, "I guess that it is flowers."
"How did you guess?" asked the little boy. She laughed and thanked him.

The second student, whose parents own a candy store, gave her a present. She held it and said, "I guess that is some candy."
"How did you guess?" asked the little boy. She again laughed and thanked him also.
The third student, whose parents own a bottle shop, gave her a box which was leaking. The teacher touched the liquid with her finger and tasted it. "Mmmmm is it wine?" she asked.
"No," said the little girl. So she tasted it again. "Is it champagne?" she asked.
"Noooooooo," replied the little girl, "It's a puppy!"
I’m so glad that when I read the bible, that I can know what God is like. He leaves His character written all over the pages. He gives us very clear names that He goes by so that we can know what to expect from Him. For instance, one name He calls Himself is Jehovah Jireh, which means “The God who provides.” So if you need a financial blessing, He says, “I’m your provider, I even call myself “Provider!” There are so many other names He calls Himself when you are in need of a savior…..Healer, Peace, Protector, Sanctifier, God who is always there…. What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and grief’s to bear, what a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer.

VIRGIN MARY

Luke 11:27-28
27 As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, "Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you."

28 He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it." NIV
** So is this very clear that we are not suppose to be worshipping the virgin Mary? How much more clear can it be coming from the mouth of Jesus Himself? But who are those that are blessed? DOERS OF THE WORD OF GOD! Hear it and do it… hear it and do it….. how many times have I said this to myself over and over again? It is the way that we need to walk…. Hear it and do it…. I’m starting to sound like a parrot!

HOW DO WE KNOW?

Gen 22:12
12 "Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son." NIV
** “Now I know that you fear God….because you have not withheld for me your son.” How does He know that we fear Him? How do we know if we fear Him? OBEDIANCE. If you fear God you will obey Him and what He is telling you to do….. enough said.

I NEED A SIGN

Gen 15:8
8 But Abram said, "O Sovereign LORD, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?" NIV
** I am just like Abram here…. I need to be shown sometimes that God really is on my side and that His promises are true and are going to come to pass. I call it a revelation. I need a physical revelation of a spiritual promise. I know, I know, “walk by faith and not by sight.” I’ve read it and quoted it many many times and yet I still find my flesh at times needing God to show me that He’s there. Sometimes it may be thru someone who doesn’t know what I’m going thru saying something to me or sometimes it’s just a bill board or an email or text or something like that that confirms in my heart He is with me and will complete what He said He would. Abram needed it and he is considered the father of faith, and I need it too so I can learn more about His promises and learn how to rely on Him sometimes when I can’t see Him.

SUITABLE HELPER

Gen 2:20
20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field.
But for Adam no suitable helper was found. NIV
** Adam was one smart man…. If I was there naming the animals this world would be a mess! I look at this verse and it amazes me at how intelligent Adam must have been. You got to figure that not only did he name the animals but he also had to remember them all day every day! I have a hard time remembering my own kids names at times…. . The other thing that stands out here to me is the statement “no suitable helper was found.” Another word here could be “partner.” You see, a partner is an equal. Remember it said “they become ONE flesh.” I’m not talking authority roles here. I’m talking about helping each other to accomplish the goals God has for each person. I want to be a partner to my wife so I can help her become as much like Jesus as she can be and I know that she has the same desire for me too. This year, let us be suitable helpers to our spouses. If you are not married, then practice being a suitable helper to God… help Him be fully Lord in your life by submitting to Him.