Category: Deuteronomy

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More Than Enough

When I was a little girl, I was intrigued by one of the Thanksgiving decorations I saw. It was a cornucopia or otherwise named, horn of plenty.

I learned that big word and liked using it. For a seven-year-old, a five-syllable word was a big deal.

Wikipedia describes it like this: “In classical antiquity, the cornucopia, from Latin cornu (horn) and copia (abundance), also called the horn of plenty, was a symbol of abundance and nourishment, commonly a large horn-shaped container overflowing with produce, flowers, or nuts.”

A symbol of abundance and nourishment.

I believe you know what I’m going to say next. Reminds me of the promises and blessings that are in God’s word.

“The Lord will love you and bless you by giving you many children and plenty of food, wine, and olive oil. Your herds of cattle will have many calves, and your flocks of sheep will have many lambs.” Deuteronomy 7:13 CEV

Moses was preparing the Israelites for their new life in the promised land. God wasn’t taking them to an impoverished home, on the contrary, He was leading them to a land that was “flowing with milk and honey”.

The Lord made them some very specific promises and they still hold true today.

“You will have many children. You will harvest large crops, and your herds of cattle and flocks of sheep and goats will produce many young. 5 You will have plenty of bread to eat. 6 The Lord will make you successful in your daily work.” Deuteronomy 28:4-6 CEV

When I look at the cornucopia now, I see overflowing abundance. Most of the items are fruit. The very thing that Christ says will be produced in our lives when we follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.

“But the fruit that the Spirit produces in a person’s life is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these kinds of things.” Galatians 5:22-23 ERV

My thoughts take me to the mountainside where Jesus multiplied the fish and the bread of a little boy’s lunch.

“Jesus took the bread in his hands and gave thanks to God. Then he passed the bread to the people, and he did the same with the fish, until everyone had plenty to eat.” John 6:11 CEV

But more than that, I remember another mountainside message.

“Don’t worry and ask yourselves, “Will we have anything to eat? Will we have anything to drink? Will we have any clothes to wear?” 32 Only people who don’t know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father in heaven knows you need all of these. 33 But more than anything else, put God’s work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well.” Matthew 6:31-33 CEV

When we put God’s word and His will first place we will have a virtual spiritual cornucopia. In Christ we have more than enough.

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Obedience

I think we all struggle with obedience from time to time. We don’t want to appear foolish or be taken for a religious nut. Maybe we think what God is asking us to do isn’t significant and it won’t matter if we obey or not.

Wrong.

As we come to the Thanksgiving season, I want to be aware of those who may need my kindness and acts of love. I want to be obedient and attentive to the Lord’s leading.

“So be sure to give to the poor. Don’t hesitate to give to them, because the Lord your God will bless you for doing this good thing. He will bless you in all your work and in everything you do. 11 There will always be poor people in the land. That is why I command you to be ready to help your brother or sister. Give to the poor in your land who need help.” Deuteronomy 15:10-11 ERV

When the Lord is prompting the act of kindness it’s never in vain. No gift is too small when God puts it on your heart.

I remember a time not long ago when Dave and I pulled into a gas station and a man knocked on our window. He offered to wash our windows for a quarter – a quarter, mind you, no one was going broke over giving a quarter.

“I’ll wash your windows for a quarter. Oh, but it doesn’t look like they need washing, do they?” Dave explained no, we had just come from the car wash. To this the man walked on to another vehicle.

As I sat there my heart began to race and I knew the Lord was dealing with me on this. This thought came – give the man the ones you have in your wallet. Really? I figured there were probably 2 or 3 ones but wasn’t sure. I opened my wallet and looked, only one. I took it out and held on to it thinking when he comes back around, I’ll roll down the window and give it to him.

Next thought was this is probably a panhandler or a scam.

Then this thought – Really? You’re going to argue with what I’m asking you to do. It’s only a dollar. Go give it to the man. I jumped out of the truck walked over and gave him the dollar. I told him our windows were clean but wanted him to have this and before I could get the words out of my mouth to say “God bless you” he said them to me.

“The Lord blesses everyone who freely gives food to the poor.” Proverbs 22:9 CEV

I never want to stop hearing from the Lord. I know His voice and when he speaks, I want to be obedient, even if it’s just a dollar. I know I did what my Father asked. Reluctantly, but I did. For many mornings after that I found myself praying for him and asking the Lord to bless him and to protect him.

Just a reminder to be obedient and follow the Shepherd’s lead.

“But the man who takes care of the sheep enters through the gate. He is the shepherd. 3 The man who guards the gate opens the gate for the shepherd. And the sheep listen to the voice of the shepherd. He calls his own sheep, using their names, and he leads them out. 4 He brings all of his sheep out. Then he goes ahead of them and leads them. The sheep follow him, because they know his voice.” John 10:2-4 ERV

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Follow the Cloud

I am especially drawn to beautiful cloud formations.

Years back Dave and I would travel from Montana to Iowa each summer. I would constantly be telling Dave to stop so I could get another picture of “those beautiful clouds”. He would laugh, sometimes stopping and at other times not.

I even made a calendar with pictures of my favorite cloud photos for the upcoming year. One day Dave told me he was sure I would be looking up and taking pictures when the Lord returns in the clouds. My response, “I certainly hope so”.

Clouds have a true significance in the Bible.

When the Israelites left Egypt Moses was told to follow the cloud.

“With the tall cloud, you led them by day, and at night you used the column of fire. That is the way you lit their path and showed them where to go.” Nehemiah 9:12 ERV

They were to stop and camp when the cloud stood still, and they were to move on when the cloud did. Not GPS but a good navigational system all the same.

“You must follow the Lord your God. Respect him. Obey his commands and do what he tells you. Serve the Lord your God, and never leave him.” Deuteronomy 13:4 ERV

Literally and figuratively the Israelites were told to follow the Lord. At first this meant the cloud and later is meant following His word.

Another place we find a cloud is when Solomon dedicated the Temple to the Lord’s service.

“They praised the Lord, singing, ‘The Lord is good. His faithful love will last forever.’ Then the Lord’s Temple was filled with a cloud. 14 The priests could not continue to serve because of the cloud, because the Glory of the Lord filled the Temple.” II Chronicles 5:13-14 ERV

It just makes me think that God wraps Himself in the clouds so He can be close to His people. Guiding them, protecting them, worshipping with them.

One more reference in Scripture, I want us to look at before we close this morning.

“After Jesus said this, he was lifted up into the sky. While they were watching, he went into a cloud, and they could not see him. 10 They were staring into the sky where he had gone. Suddenly two men wearing white clothes were standing beside them. 11 They said, ‘Men from Galilee, why are you standing here looking into the sky? You saw Jesus carried away from you into heaven. He will come back in the same way you saw him go.'” Acts 1:9-11 ERV

Jesus was resurrected, that is true. What is also true is that He will return, and I believe it to be soon. Keep looking up, watch the clouds. They are reminders to remain hopeful and ready for His return.

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Encouragement for Seniors

When I was a girl, I loved to hear the stories of David the shepherd boy, young Samuel, Esther the girl chosen to be queen and Mary the young Jewish girl called to be the mother of Jesus.

It was important for me to know that the Lord used young people; they had an important role in Biblical history. The Apostle Paul even told Timothy “Let no one despise your youth”.

Then there are those middle-aged giants of faith, Naomi, King David, Solomon, Isaiah, Daniel, Peter, James, Luke and Paul. They had such strength of body and strength of character. It’s easy to see how they made an impact on their world.

But now that I’m in my seventies, it’s encouraging to know that God has a plan for the senior generation as well. The picture I used today is of the cedars of Lebanon that the Bible frequently talks about. Read to the end and see why this stately tree is an example to us.

Moses was 80 years old when he went to pharaoh and demanded that the Israelites be released from bondage. He died at 120.

“ Moses was 120 years old when he died. He was as strong as ever, and his eyes were still good.” Deuteronomy 34:7 ERV

Joshua took over for Moses at the age of 80 and led the people of Israel in to conqueror the promised land. He was a mighty leader and so was Caleb who had walked side by side with Joshua for the last 40 years.

Some mornings I get up with those little aches and pains like many my age experience. Some mornings it more intense than others – you know what I mean. But, each day I get up with praise in my heart and thanksgiving on my lips for all the Father has done and is doing in my life. I am blessed with strength, health, a sound mind, a pretty strong body and God has given me wisdom, hope and joy.

“For God did not give us a spirit of fear. He gave us a spirit of power and of love and of a good mind.” II Timothy 1:7 NLV

I’ve said all of this to encourage you, no matter what your age, God has a purpose and plan for us at each stage of our lives. I want to share with you what I read in the Psalms, and I pray that it speaks to you as it spoke to me.

“It is wonderful to be grateful and to sing your praises, Lord Most High! 2 It is wonderful each morning to tell about your love and at night to announce how faithful you are...12 Good people will prosper like palm trees, and they will grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon. 13 They will take root in your house, Lord God, and they will do well. 14 They will be like trees that stay healthy and fruitful, even when they are old. 15 And they will say about you, ‘The Lord always does right! God is our mighty rock.'” Psalm 92:1,2, 12-15 CEV

Healthy and fruitful, strong and prosperous even when we are old. We will say “the Lord always does right”. We have a testimony that those younger have yet to fully understand. With length of years comes a confidence and a trust that the Lord ALWAYS does right. He is faithful.

Waking up this morning means that God has something planned for us to do. Let’s do it with a grateful heart and begin by telling others about His love!

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Keep Doing Right

Do you know how often I stop to pray for you?

Of course, it’s always first thing in the morning when the Lord fills my heart with what He wants to share but it’s also during the day when I am impressed with how blessed I am to be able to share God’s love with you each day.

I can relate with the Apostle Paul and his greeting to the Christians in the church of Philippi. I will probably never meet many of you this side of heaven, but I hold you in my heart and my prayers.

“ Every time I think of you, I thank my God. 4 And whenever I mention you in my prayers, it makes me happy. 5 This is because you have taken part with me in spreading the good news from the first day you heard about it. 6 God is the one who began this good work in you, and I am certain that he won’t stop before it is complete on the day that Christ Jesus returns.

7 You have a special place in my heart. So it is only natural for me to feel the way I do. All of you have helped in the work God has given me, as I defend the good news and tell about it here in jail. 8 God himself knows how much I want to see you. He knows I care for you in the same way Christ Jesus does.

9 I pray that your love will keep on growing and you will fully know and understand 10 how to make the right choices. Then you will still be pure and innocent when Christ returns. And until that day, 11 Jesus Christ will keep you busy doing good deeds that bring glory and praise to God.” Philippians 1:3-11 CEV

Growing and making the right choices.

What are the right choices? I’m so glad you asked.

“Each one of you is part of the body of Christ, and you were chosen to live together in peace. So let the peace that comes from Christ control your thoughts. And be grateful…17 Whatever you say or do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks to God the Father because of him.” Colossians 3:15-17 CEV

Remember a few years ago when people were wearing those bracelets, WWJD? That’s a good way to do right. But this just wasn’t a new concept that Paul was teaching. No, God had put it in place thousands of years before. This is what Moses said:

“ You must be sure to obey the commands of the Lord your God. You must follow all the teachings and laws he has given you. 18 You must do what is right and good—what pleases the Lord. Then everything will go well for you, and you can go in and take the good land that the Lord promised your ancestors.” Deuteronomy 6:17-18 ERV

Solomon said this: “Doing what is right and fair pleases the Lord more than an offering.” Proverbs 21:3 CEV

And Isaiah recorded this: “ The Lord said these things, ‘Be fair to all people. Do what is right, because soon my salvation will come to you. My goodness will soon be shown to the whole world.‘” Isaiah 56:1 ERV

“When people live to please the Lord, even their enemies will be at peace with them.” Proverbs 16:7 ERV

Doing what is right is good; we will never go wrong making the right choices. We may be misunderstood by those around us; we may even be judged unfairly. But, when our heart is right before God, we please Him and that’s more than enough!

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Call Her Blessed

“Charm can be deceiving, and beauty fades away, but a woman who honors the Lord deserves to be praised.” Proverbs 31:30 CEV

Today I would like to honor my Mom. I would like to tell you what happened 71 years ago today.

My parents and siblings lived in a little town called Tacna. It’s about 40 miles out of Yuma. My dad worked road construction and their home was a small 8’x30′ trailer. My birth was eminent and since they lived so far from town, and I was my mother’s third pregnancy her doctor scheduled my delivery.

Dad drove Mom to the hospital in Yuma. July 3rd in Yuma. There was no such thing as air conditioning. In fact, there was a water shortage, so the evaporative coolers didn’t operate properly, no water to cool them, only hot air circulating through the hospital. I was born at 3:30 p.m. and my Mom later learned that her dad had passed away about twelve hours earlier at 3:30 a.m.

That’s how life started for me.

My Mom was a real trooper, and she loved the Lord. She and Daddy both had accepted Christ about five years before in a tent revival meeting. They raised us with prayer, love and a trust in the Lord.

Times were tough; we didn’t have a lot of material things, but we did always have food on the table, a bed to sleep in, a home filled with love and prayer. I wasn’t always the perfect daughter, and she wasn’t always the perfect mom but I’m so thankful that God chose her to be my role model.

“Bring up a child by teaching him the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn away from it.” Proverbs 22:6 NLV

Mom’s been gone three years now and I miss not hearing her voice on the phone as she called to wish me happy birthday. So many good memories of birthday cakes she made, parties she planned, new clothes she made and the love she gave.

“ And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 Keep these words in your heart that I am telling you today. 7 Do your best to teach them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road and when you lie down and when you get up.” Deuteronomy 6:5-7 NLV

I want this to be an encouragement to each of you. Our possessions may be meager but as long as we are confident in God’s love and His goodness, we have immeasurable wealth to share with our children.

Thanks Mom.

Thanks Mom – I’m blessed!

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Family Values

This morning my thoughts are filled with memories of my parents. For all my life June 9th was a day for celebrating. Even after my father died in 2005, I still made an effort to make it special for Mom.

They were married June 9, 1945.

They raised our family to love and serve the Lord. Of course, we deviated from that for a while but each of my siblings and myself have a deep and personal relationship with Christ and that is largely in part to the prayers and values of my parents and my grandparents.

I remember my mother telling of times of family prayer each evening after dinner. Sometimes her grandparents would join them, and she said her grandfather could pray at great length, in his native tongue of Norwegian.

My grandparents were great prayer warriors. In her 60’s my grandmother would pray for hours each day. Each family member was mentioned by name – children, grandchildren, great grands and all their spouses. Add to that all the missionary families she knew around the world, as well as family friends.

When my grandmother died my mom took up her prayer mantle. It was not unusual to find Mom sitting in her recliner praying each day, reading her Bible and sharing her love for Jesus with those who dropped in for a visit. And now, she too, has passed from this earth to her home in heaven.

My grandfather was known by the nickname Preacher. He lived to tell people about Jesus. I never knew him, he died the day I was born but I know that he prayed for me throughout my mom’s pregnancy.

Dad loved the Lord and he loved singing. He gave me my love of music and I especially liked standing next to him in church and having our voices blend in song.

“You must be very careful not to forget the things you have seen God do for you. Keep reminding yourselves, and tell your children and grandchildren as well.” Deuteronomy 4:9 CEV

Maybe you weren’t raised with the heritage that I was. However, you can leave a legacy of prayer and godliness for your children and grandchildren.

Last year at our 50th anniversary celebration our oldest granddaughter paid us the highest compliment. She told what it meant to her and the family that Dave and I have the relationship with Christ that we do and that they know we are always praying for them.

“You provide food for those you love. Their children have plenty, and their grandchildren
will have more than enough.” Psalm 17:14b CEV

The one thing the Lord reminds me often is that my children are His children and He loves them more than I ever could. I can trust Him to be their God and Father.

“Thank you Father for my heritage and the godly legacy that is mine. I desire to have this same impact in my family. In the precious name of Jesus, I praise You. Amen.”

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Giants in the Way

On the road to the cross there are problems; enemies to be confronted, giants to defeat.

God made a promise to the Israelites that He would be their God and they would be His people. He said He would bless those that blessed His people and curse those that cursed them.

My favorite verse is found in the Book of Numbers, chapter 23 verse 19. A warring king had wanted the prophet to speak a curse on the Israelites. This is what the prophet said:

“ Balaam answered: ‘Pay close attention to my words—19 God is no mere human! He doesn’t tell lies or change his mind. God always keeps his promises. 20 ‘My command from God was to bless these people, and there’s nothing I can do to change what he has done. 21 Israel’s king is the Lord God. He lives there with them and intends them no harm.” Numbers 23:18-21 CEV

Because of Abraham’s relationship with the Lord, God made a promise to bless His people. It was an unbreakable promise. The ultimate blessing came at the cross when all people would be offered the gift of forgiveness and reconciliation through the death of Jesus. Until that time God’s covenant blessing was on those who trusted Him.

“You know that the Lord your God is the only true God. So love him and obey his commands, and he will faithfully keep his agreement with you and your descendants for a thousand generations.” Deuteronomy 7:9 CEV

That didn’t mean there wouldn’t be obstacles. It seems as though there was always a king, a nation, a man, who was trying to obstruct God’s plan.

We’ll take a brief look at a young shepherd, David.

“The Philistines had a champion fighter named Goliath, who was from Gath. He was over 9 feet tall. Goliath came out of the Philistine camp. 5 He had a bronze helmet on his head. He wore a coat of armor that was made like the scales on a fish. This armor was made of bronze and weighed about 125 pounds. 6 Goliath wore bronze protectors on his legs. He had a bronze javelin tied on his back. 7 The wooden part of his spear was as big as a weaver’s rod. The spear’s blade weighed 15 pounds. Goliath’s helper walked in front of him, carrying Goliath’s shield.

8 Each day Goliath would come out and shout a challenge to the Israelite soldiers… 10 The Philistine also said, ‘Today I stand and make fun of the army of Israel. I dare you to send me one of your men and let us fight.’” I Samuel 17:4-10 ERV

Each day the giant would taunt them. Each day the Israelites would cower in fear. But then came a young man who knew the promise of God.

“ David asked the men standing near him, ‘What did he say?…Who is this Goliath anyway? He is only some foreigner, nothing but a Philistine. Why does he think he can speak against the army of the living God?” I Samuel 17:26 ERV

David armed himself for battle not with armor and sword but with his confidence in the promises of God.

“45 David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me using sword, spear, and javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord All-Powerful, the God of the armies of Israel. You have said bad things about him. 46 Today the Lord will let me defeat you. I will kill you. I will cut off your head and feed your body to the birds and wild animals. And we will do the same thing to all the other Philistines too. Then all the world will know there is a God in Israel. 47 All the people gathered here will know that the Lord doesn’t need swords or spears to save people. The battle belongs to the Lord, and he will help us defeat all of you.’” I Samuel 17:45-47 ERV

Are there giants standing in your way? Are they taunting you, trying to disarm you with fear? Be a David, show up to the fight in obedience to God’s word and remember “the battle belongs to the Lord”!

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For Goodness Sake

“But the fruit that the Spirit produces in a person’s life is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these kinds of things. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their sinful self. They have given up their old selfish feelings and the evil things they wanted to do.” Galatians 5:22-24 ERV

I hope you took the opportunities you had yesterday to be kind. Today we will be planting seeds of goodness, which may look very similar to kindness but there is a distinct difference.

Kindness is something we do for others. Anyone can do random acts of kindness, but goodness is an attitude of the heart.

Goodness is a moral excellence.

“People who try hard to do good and be faithful will find life, goodness, and honor.” Proverbs 21:21 ERV

“God’s love will come together with his faithful people. Goodness and peace will greet them with a kiss. 11 People on earth will be loyal to God, and God in heaven will be good to them.” Psalm 85:10-11 ERV

There are several places in the Bible where goodness and fairness are linked together. Some refer to our actions toward others and some refer to God’s heart toward us.

“You must always be fair. You must not favor some people over other people. You must not take money to change your mind in judgment. Money blinds the eyes of wise people and changes what a good person will say. 20 Goodness and Fairness! You must try very hard to be good and fair all the time. Then you will live and keep the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” Deuteronomy 16:19-21 ERV

“Lord, your faithful love reaches to the sky. Your faithfulness is as high as the clouds. 6 Your goodness is higher than the highest mountains. Your fairness is deeper than the deepest ocean. Lord, you protect people and animals. 7Nothing is more precious than your loving kindness. All people can find protection close to you.” Psalm 36:5-7 ERV

Here the character of God is in full view – His faithful love, goodness, fairness and His kindness. Because God is love, His heart is good, His thoughts are fair and His actions are kind.

Jesus taught about this attitude of the heart.

“ Every tree is known by the kind of fruit it produces. You won’t find figs on thorny weeds. And you can’t pick grapes from thornbushes! 45 Good people have good things saved in their hearts. That’s why they say good things. But those who are evil have hearts full of evil, and that’s why they say things that are evil. What people say with their mouths comes from what fills their hearts.

46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but you don’t do what I say? 47 The people who come to me, who listen to my teachings and obey them—I will show you what they are like: 48 They are like a man building a house. He digs deep and builds his house on rock. The floods come, and the water crashes against the house. But the flood cannot move the house, because it was built well.” Luke 6:44-48 ERV

A good heart is one that is obedient and grounded on God’s word. A good heart will produce kind actions. Let’s all be good, for goodness’ sake!

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Never Far Away

This morning I was reading in Acts. The chapter I was in, told of Paul traveling to Athens and Corinth and teaching the Greeks.

It reminded me of our time in Greece. There were small chapels everywhere. Sometimes they were only half a mile apart. When we would walk the streets there would be a chapel in the center of the city square, one at the harbor only a few hundred yards away, one on the top of a small hill and then there were prayer chapels sandwiched in between the shops.

Always, there was a reminder of the presence of God. That IS my favorite memory from the Greek islands.

“So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

7 Then Moses called for Joshua, and as all Israel watched, he said to him, “Be strong and courageous! For you will lead these people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors he would give them. You are the one who will divide it among them as their grants of land. 8 Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:6-8 NLT

So much to be grateful for! “Don’t be afraid – He will neither fail you nor abandon you”!

Have you ever felt abandoned? Lost and afraid? It’s a sinking feeling; almost a hopelessness. Our heavenly Father never wants us to experience that kind of desperation.

“O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. 2 You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. 3 You see me when travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do…I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! 8 If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. 9 If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, 10 even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.” Psalm 139:1-10 NLT

There is no place we will ever go or ever be that our loving, heavenly Father doesn’t go with us.

Jonah was in the belly of a fish; the three Hebrew children were in a fiery furnace, Paul was lost in the sea, the thief was hanging on the cross, the woman was in an adulterous affair and David was facing a giant. All the time, God was there.

We used to sing a song that went something like this: “The place where I worship is the wide, open spaces built by the hand of the Lord. The trees of the forest are like pipes of an organ and the breeze plays an amen chord…”

Like our friends in Greece, we need to take time to worship God no matter where we are.

In a hospital room, a court room, an empty home, a crowded office or a bustling interstate, God is there.

Anywhere we go can become a place of worship if we open our hearts and praise the One who has promised to never leave us alone or abandon us!

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