Overcoming life’s challenges

Deuteronomy 1

When the Israelites encountered resistance on the Promised Land, they violated a spiritual principle … they based their fears on what they saw rather than God’s promise. He told them to possess the land and that HE would fight FOR them.

God will fight for you. Don’t let your fear of the obstacles before you cripple you. With prayer and faith, you too can possess God’s promise to you.

“In the midst”

Num. 36

We find this expression often in the Word. It’s where God wants to be.

He wants to be the center and heart of all we do. We accomplish it by committing everything to Him in prayer initially. Then, we allow His Word to direct our course of action. He is thereby allowed to be as great as HE IS!

The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in his love, He will joy over thee with singing. [Zeph. 3:17]

Follow the recipe

Num. 29

The Law of Moses “Recipe of Righteousness” was an exhausting litany of requirements for the worshippers. Fulfilling all the details to please the Lord was nearly impossible. Whereas it wasn’t easy to live up to, it did serve as an effective schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. Faith in Christ accomplished what observance of the Law did not … give us a practical and sufficient way to live a life pleasing to the Lord.

Thanks be to God for His unspeakable Gift, Jesus His Son.

Your best offering

Num. 29

I served the Lord in the Praise and Worship/Music ministry from 1972 to 2002. My desire was to give God the best music I could from a sincere heart. I was very careful to avoid worshipping music excellence. That is idolatry.

Paul instructs, “Whatever you do [whatever your task may be], work from the soul [that is, put in your very best effort], as [something done] for the Lord and not for men.” [Col. 3:23 Amp.]

The smell test

Num. 28

Obviously God has a nose because the concept of a “soothing aroma” to Him is a major issue concerning offerings.

Our lives offer up an aroma to Him. God preferred Abel’s offering because it included faith. A frequent bath in His Word helps deter an offensive smell from our lives.

2 Cor. 2:14-17 tells us how we can witness about Christ to our generation with the fragrance of our lives.

Losing two sons

Num. 26

Nadab and Abihu were Aaron’s sons. They messed up big time. I’m sure it was a great grief to Aaron and his wife, because God took them.

My baby brother, Greg, took his life in 1993. I watched the suffering my parents endured. I don’t want that for anyone.

Pray for your children EVERY DAY that they stay clear of sin.

Beginnings

The original reason I began this blog was to challenge the staff and families of Trinity Christian School to read through the Bible in a year. There are many published plans of daily readings to use.

3 chapters every day and 5 on Sunday will get it done.

I listen to the Word. I use the audio Bibles from biblegateway.com. I imagine I’m present in the text. I’m now going through the NASB 1995 version. The NIV Dramatized is excellent. It makes you feel like you’re right there.

What a marvelous gift God has given to us, His Word.

The first born

Num. 18

God wanted the first born of the womb to be dedicated to His service. He made provision for them to have their needs met so they could devote themselves to ministering unto Him.

Interestingly, myself, my daughter Julie, my cousin Alan, all firstborn have been in the ministry their entire lives. I can testify to God’s faithfulness.

The man I choose

Num. 17

God indicated His choice for spiritual leadership by causing Aaron’s rod to bud. No human ambition nor manipulation were involved.

God can full well choose whom He desires to operate in spiritual gifting and ministries.

“Blessed is the man whom Thou choosest and causeth to approach unto Thee …” [Ps. 65:4]