Category: Exodus

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Nothing Is Impossible

I want to tell you this morning that this may not be what you would consider a “Christmas” teaching, but it is exactly the message that Christ came to deliver. I know it will be an encouragement to many who need an answer from the Lord today.

Can you imagine what it was like to be Jesus? People live under the impression that since He was God in flesh that everything went well for Him. He was perfect, right? Yes, that’s true; He experienced everything that we do and He did it all without sin.

“Like a young plant or a root that sprouts in dry ground, the servant grew up obeying the LORD. He wasn’t some handsome king. Nothing about the way he looked made him attractive to us. 3 He was hated and rejected; his life was filled with sorrow and terrible suffering. No one wanted to look at him. We despised him and said, ‘He is a nobody!’” Isaiah 53:2-3 CEV

Isaiah prophesied that He was common looking, unattractive and nothing special as far as physical traits. He wasn’t Charles Atlas; he wouldn’t have been the captain of the football team or even voted most likely to succeed. His own family and disciples didn’t understand Him.

One time He was holding a meeting and his mother and brothers were outside and sent a message to him.

“ Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside and want to talk with you.” 48 answered, “Who is my mother and who are my brothers?” Matthew 12:47-48 CEV

If they had truly believed Jesus was God’s Son, the Messiah, would they have interrupted his teaching? Or how about the disciples when they became upset with Jesus because the ship they were in was taking on water and about to sink?

“Jesus was in the back of the boat with his head on a pillow, and he was asleep. His disciples woke him and said, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re about to drown?” 39 Jesus got up and ordered the wind and the waves to be quiet. The wind stopped, and everything was calm.” Mark 4:38-39 CEV

If their faith had really been in Jesus as the Son of God, they should have approached it this way. “Hey, let’s wake Jesus up because He’ll have the answer to our problem. This storm isn’t a surprise to Him. He’ll know what to do.”

I find it encouraging that those who were closest to Jesus had to grow in faith to accept Him for who He said He was, who they knew Him to be. Just like us – when we cry out “Lord, don’t you care I’m about to go under; cancer is about to sink me, the waves of debt are flooding my boat, the storm of rebellious children or a typhoon with my mate is about to capsize me in this ocean? Don’t you care?”

Even when we come to Him in that kind of desperation and fear, He will speak to our storm and say “Peace, be still!” Then He takes time to teach us again – Come boldly to my throne and find help in your time of need.

But then He expects us to accept, by faith, that help is on the way!

In the old Westerns you could always hear the Cavalry bugle before you saw the soldiers. The invitation to come boldly or “to call on me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things” (Jeremiah 33:3) is the sound of the bugle. It’s then our responsibility to “Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day” (Exodus 14:13)

Let God be God in your life today. Don’t limit Him by what you see. As the angel told Mary, “with God nothing is impossible”!

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Followers, Friends, Family

I wish you could sit with me in the mornings and hear the words that the Lord drops into my heart. Although they can’t be heard audibly, they thunder in my soul.

“‘Wash yourselves clean! I hate your filthy deeds. Stop doing wrong 17 and learn to live right.
See that justice is done. Defend widows and orphans and help the oppressed.’

An Invitation from the Lord

18 I, the Lord, invite you to come and talk it over. Your sins are scarlet red, but they will be whiter than snow or wool. 19 If you willingly obey me, the best crops in the land will be yours.” Isaiah 1:16-19 CEV

When the Israelites were delivered from Egypt they had God’s promise, “I will be your God and you will be my people”. (Exodus 6:7, Leviticus 26:12)

But they forgot to serve God and went their own way and served other gods and also their own selfish ambitions. However, God did not forget them. He invited them to come, sit with Him, talk things over and He would forgive their sins and make them clean again. They were followers.

Jesus also had a group of people who were faithful followers and before He died Jesus elevated their relationship to one of friendship.

“14 And you are my friends, if you obey me. 15 Servants don’t know what their master is doing, and so I don’t speak to you as my servants. I speak to you as my friends, and I have told you everything my Father has told me.

16 You did not choose me. I chose you and sent you out to produce fruit, the kind of fruit that will last. Then my Father will give you whatever you ask for in my name. 17 So I command you to love each other.” John 15:14-17 CEV

For three years they had followed Jesus. They had their up’s and down’s; Jesus taught them how to honor the Father. They had seen many miracles. Their time on earth together was coming to an end. Jesus reminded them that they had been chosen, we too have been chosen. He also reminded them that the Father would be attentive to their prayers.

Followers become friends. Friends become family.

“Only those people who are led by God’s Spirit are his children. 15  God’s Spirit doesn’t make us slaves who are afraid of him. Instead, we become his children and call him our Father. 16 God’s Spirit makes us sure that we are his children. 17 His Spirit lets us know that together with Christ we will be given what God has promised. We will also share in the glory of Christ, because we have suffered with him.” Romans 8:14-17 CEV

Family.

We have been invited to become family. Our heavenly Father is just, kind, and good. He is faithful, all-knowing, all-powerful, unconditionally loving. Nothing can separate us from His love. (Romans 8:35)

Christ suffered persecution and rejection. His words were misunderstood, and He was ridiculed for saying that God was His Father. We will experience some of the same because we are His family.

Since we will share some of the same challenges and hardships, we have His promise of help.

“ Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are. But he did not sin! 16 So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved grace, and we will find help.” Hebrews 4:15-16 CEV

We are family and God, our Father, is always there for us.

Followers, friends, family. I was a follower who became a friend but then I was adopted and now I’m family. Family is the best!

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Who Is God?

I’ve enjoyed having the last couple of mornings to sleep in and days to do nothing but relax and soak in the beauty around me. But I’ve missed sharing with each of you.

We all have times when we need to pull aside and let our heavenly Father speak in His reassuring words, reminding us who He is and what He desires to do for us and in us.

I found you a peaceful place to sit and listen to His voice. Join me at the creek side and hear the Lord speak.

To Abraham: Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. Genesis 15:1

“I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.” Genesis 17:1

To Moses: “And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you.” Exodus 3:14

To Israel in the wilderness: “for I am the Lord that healeth thee.” Exodus 15:26

“I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.” Exodus 20:2

To David: “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth” Psalm 46:10

To those who followed Him, Jesus said: “I am that bread of life.” John 6:48

“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12

“I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, ” John 10:9

“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” John 10:11

“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:” John 11:25

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6

“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:5

To the church: “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8

God the Father isn’t the I was; He is the great I AM!

We can spend time looking at the problems in our world, our society, our lives but I encourage you to look at the answer and not the problem. Look to the Father, He is the answer; He knows the way to go!

“Great blessings belong to those who don’t listen to evil advice, who don’t live like sinners, and who don’t join those who make fun of God. 2 Instead, they love the Lord’s teachings and think about them day and night. 3 So they grow strong, like a tree planted by a stream—
a tree that produces fruit when it should and has leaves that never fall. Everything they do is successful.” Psalm 1:1-3 ERV

Who is God? He’s our loving Father and He is all we need!

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Ready to Lead?

When we follow the Lord there will be a time and place that He calls on us to lead. It may be a Sunday School class, a study group, a section leader, an administrator, a city, a nation or a family.

God is always looking for faithful people who have a heart for Him. He had Noah “lead” all the animals on to the ark. Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt. A shepherd boy named David was God’s chosen leader of the nation of Israel. The apostles were sent by Jesus to lead the world to salvation.

Each one of us has a purpose, designed by God to lead in some particular way.

This morning, I want to focus on Moses. He was a reluctant leader. He had all sorts of excuses when God first called him from the burning bush. However, he was obedient and led them out of the bondage they experienced to the Promised Land.

The Israelites weren’t always willing followers. They were often times rebellious trying Moses’ patience and God’s. The whole time that Moses was leading the people he was also following God.

Good leaders are good followers!

“God replied, “I will be with you. And you will know that I am the one who sent you, when you worship me on this mountain after you have led my people out of Egypt.” Exodus 3:12 CEV

Moses led the people by following God’s cloud by day and pillar of fire by night.

“Because of your great mercy, you never abandoned them in the desert. And you always guided them with a cloud by day and a fire at night.” Nehemiah 9:19 CEV

Moses was faithful in seeking God’s direction.

“Moses said to the Lord, ‘I know that you have told me to lead these people to the land you promised them. But you have not said who will go along to help me. You have said that you are my friend and that you are pleased with me. 13 If this is true, let me know what your plans are, then I can obey and continue to please you. And don’t forget that you have chosen this nation to be your own.’

14 The Lord said, ‘I will go with you and give you peace.’

15 Then Moses replied, ‘If you aren’t going with us, please don’t make us leave this place. 16 But if you do go with us, everyone will know that you are pleased with your people and with me. That way, we will be different from the rest of the people on earth.'” Exodus 33:12-16 CEV

When God puts us in a place of leadership, we need to have the same mindset that Moses had. “If You don’t go with us, then I’m not going”. When the Lord goes with us, we will have His peace. We can trust His leading.

The Apostle Paul started out as a persecutor of Christians but when God turned his life around he became the leader of churches worldwide.

“ But since I was worse than anyone else, God had mercy on me and let me be an example of the endless patience of Christ Jesus. He did this so that others would put their faith in Christ and have eternal life. 17 I pray that honor and glory will always be given to the only God, who lives forever and is the invisible and eternal King! Amen.” I Timothy1:16-17 CEV

We serve and follow the same eternal, invisible, Almighty God. He will direct our steps. When He asks we need to be ready to lead.

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Name Above All Names

Sometimes in the quiet of the morning I just sit here and whisper the names of the Lord.

Heavenly Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Comforter, God Almighty, Messiah, Advocate, Emmanuel – God with us…and the list could go on and on.

Why so many names for our God and Father, Savior and Lord, Advocate and Counsellor?

“Our Lord and Ruler, your name is wonderful everywhere on earth! You let your glory be seen in the heavens above. 2 With praises from children and from tiny infants, you have built a fortress. It makes your enemies silent, and all who turn against you are left speechless. 3 I often think of the heavens your hands have made, and of the moon and stars you put in place. 4 Then I ask, “Why do you care about us humans? Why are you concerned for us weaklings?” 5 You made us a little lower than you yourself, and you have crowned us with glory and honor.

6 You let us rule everything your hands have made. And you put all of it under our power—
7 the sheep and the cattle, and every wild animal, 8 the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea, and all ocean creatures. 9 Our Lord and Ruler, your name is wonderful everywhere on earth!” Psalm 8 CEV

To the lost He said I am the Way; to the sick He is the Great Physician; for those in need He is El Shaddai (the provider); to the hungry He is the Bread of Life; to those living in darkness He is the Light of the World. For the soldier He is their defense and high tower; to those who are afraid He is the Prince of Peace.

When He asked the disciples who they thought He was they said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God”!

To those who need forgiveness He is Savior; to everyone who needs deliverance He is Messiah; to the lonely He is the friend that sticks closer than a brother.

“Then God gave Christ the highest place and honored his name above all others. 10 So at the name of Jesus everyone will bow down, those in heaven, on earth, and under the earth.
11 And to the glory of God the Father everyone will openly agree, ‘Jesus Christ is Lord!’” Philippians 2:9-11 CEV

To all of creation He is the Great I Am, Lord God Almighty, Lord of Hosts and Mighty God. God told Moses that He should be known as “I AM”. God is ever present and He is everything we need. He is I AM.

“…But what should I say, if they ask me your name?”14-15  God said to Moses: I am the eternal God. So tell them that the Lord, whose name is “I Am,” has sent you. This is my name forever, and it is the name that people must use from now on.” Exodus 3:13-15 CEV

“I am,” means “I am the one who is” or “I will be what I will be” or “I am the one who brings into being.”

Jesus said when He left this earth the Heavenly Father would send us the Holy Spirit who remains with us forever.

“16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever—” John 14:16 AMPC

If Jesus asked us today “who do you say I am”, what answer would we give? For me, I would say Savior, Lord and Friend.

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Follow the Cloud

When Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt they were headed for the “Promised Land”. The questions were where and how. No GPS, no Garmin, no Atlas or road map.

God was asking them to follow, and He had a plan.

“Because of your great mercy, you never abandoned them in the desert. And you always guided them with a cloud by day and a fire at night. 20 Your gentle Spirit instructed them, and you gave them manna to eat and water to drink.” Nehemiah 9:17-18 CEV

God provided His own instructional mapping service. He was leading them to the land that He promised Abraham hundreds of years before. God had not forgotten His promise.

“ As soon as the sacred tent was set up a thick cloud appeared and covered it. The cloud was there each day, and during the night, a fire could be seen in it. 17-19 The Lord used this cloud to tell the Israelites when to move their camp and where to set it up again. As long as the cloud covered the tent, the Israelites did not break camp. But when the cloud moved, they followed it, and wherever it stopped, they camped and stayed there,” Numbers 9:15-19 CEV

That cloud was a constant reminder of God’s presence. He had promised to be their God and their provider.

“Moses said to the Lord, ‘I know that you have told me to lead these people to the land you promised them. But you have not said who will go along to help me. You have said that you are my friend and that you are pleased with me. 13 If this is true, let me know what your plans are, then I can obey and continue to please you. And don’t forget that you have chosen this nation to be your own.’ 14 The Lord said, ‘I will go with you and give you peace.’ 15 Then Moses replied, ‘If you aren’t going with us, please don’t make us leave this place. 16 But if you do go with us, everyone will know that you are pleased with your people and with me. That way, we will be different from the rest of the people on earth.’ 17 So the Lord told him, ‘I will do what you have asked, because I am your friend and I am pleased with you.'” Exodus 33:12-17 CEV

What an amazing promise but that was then, what about us in the here and now? The Israelites were on the road leading to the cross; we walk the road following the cross.

“Keep your lives free from the love of money. And be satisfied with what you have. God has said, ‘I will never leave you; I will never run away from you.” Hebrews 13:5 ERV

“ I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper to be with you forever. 17 The Helper is the Spirit of truth. The people of the world cannot accept him, because they don’t see him or know him. But you know him. He lives with you, and he will be in you…I have told you all these things while I am with you. 26 But the Helper will teach you everything and cause you to remember all that I told you. This Helper is the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name. 27 I leave you peace. It is my own peace I give you. I give you peace in a different way than the world does. So don’t be troubled. Don’t be afraid.” John 14:16-27 ERV

God promised the Israelites His presence and His peace. Those are the same promises He has made us.

As we seek His presence and follow His peace, we find that our way also leads to the cross.

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The Lamb

Today we will walk in the steps of the Israelites as they get ready to leave Egypt. Over 500 years have passed since Abraham and Jacob went to the mountain and God provided a sacrificial lamb.

In our story today, there is another lamb that needs to be sacrificed.

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph have all died. The Israelities, Jacob’s descendants, had gone to Egypt during a time of famine. Joseph had been promoted by the pharaoh as the second most influential man in Egypt. His planning had saved many from starvation but after he died the Bible tells us that a pharaoh who “didn’t know Joseph” began to rule and he was afraid of the Israelites, so he enslaved them.

God saw the plight of the Israelites and put a plan in motion for their salvation and deliverance. Enter Moses, the one who would lead them out of Egypt.

Moses had been raised in the pharaoh’s palace. He had been rescued as an infant by pharaoh’s daughter, but he lost his status in the palace, fled Egypt, became a shepherd, had an encounter with the Lord and returned to Egypt as the one who had been called to deliver God’s people.

“Then after Moses grew up, his faith made him refuse to be called the king’s grandson. 25  He chose to be mistreated with God’s people instead of having the good time that sin could bring for a little while. 26 Moses knew that the treasures of Egypt were not as wonderful as what he would receive from suffering for the Messiah, and he looked forward to his reward.” Hebrews 11:24-26 CEV

You’re probably aware of the story, “Let my people go” was God’s message. However, the pharaoh had a hard heart and no matter the severity of the plagues – frogs, locusts, darkness, hail, blood, blight of crops, animals dying, – he refused to let them go.

The final plague was the death of the first born in every household. However, God had a plan that would save and deliver the Israelites.

“ So Moses called all the elders together and told them, ‘Get the lambs for your families. Kill the lambs for the Passover. 22 Take bunches of hyssop and dip them in the bowls filled with blood. Paint the blood on the sides and top of each doorframe. No one must leave their house until morning. 23 At the time the Lord goes through Egypt to kill the firstborn, he will see the blood on the sides and top of each doorframe. Then he will protect that house and not let the Destroyer come into any of your houses and hurt you. 24 You must remember this command. This law is for you and your descendants forever. 25 You must remember to do this even when you go to the land the Lord is giving you. 26 When your children ask you, ‘Why are we doing this ceremony?’ 27 you will say, ‘This Passover is to honor the Lord, because when we were in Egypt, he passed over the houses of Israel. He killed the Egyptians, but he saved the people in our houses.’” Exodus 12:21-27 ERV

The blood of the lamb was a sign of obedience and salvation for the Israelites.

Hundreds of years later Jesus was celebrating the Passover with his disciples, and this is what He said:

“When the time came for Jesus and the apostles to eat, 15 he said to them, “I have very much wanted to eat this Passover meal with you before I suffer…19 Jesus took some bread in his hands and gave thanks for it. He broke the bread and handed it to his apostles. Then he said, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Eat this as a way of remembering me!’ 20  After the meal he took another cup of wine in his hands. Then he said, ‘This is my blood. It is poured out for you, and with it God makes his new agreement.'” Luke 22:14-21 CEV

A lamb, an innocent lamb, became a milestone, a sign post of direction pointing the way to the Lamb of God and the cross.

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Instant Growth

Boy, is that an oxymoron! Growth is never instant and that’s exactly why it’s called growth.

“ God’s Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, 23 gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways.” Galatians 5:22-23 CEV

Patience, Longsuffering, Endurance, not words we like to live.

“My friends, be glad, even if you have a lot of trouble. 3 You know you learn to endure by having your faith tested. 4 But you must learn to endure everything, so you will be completely mature and not lacking in anything.” James 1:2-4 CEV

Patience isn’t just the ability to wait; it’s waiting with character. It’s waiting with love, joy and peace. Impatient people wait – they just don’t do it well. When the Holy Spirit is working in our lives, while patience is growing, we will have daily opportunities to endure or to suffer long.

That slow cashier at the grocery store, the long line of traffic, the person trying to decide which orange juice to buy, getting through the admission process at the doctor’s office, standing in line at the post office, waiting on hold (I fail often with this one) are all opportunities – opportunities to endure.

While we’re waiting it’s a good time to plant more seed.

“Love is patient and kind,” I Corinthians 13:4 CEV

These fruit of the Spirit we are planting are the fruit or character of God. We are called to imitate Him as little children imitate their parents.

“Then he passed in front of Moses and called out, ‘I am the Lord God. I am merciful and very patient with my people. I show great love, and I can be trusted. ‘” Exodus 34:6

God, the Father, has been tremendously patient with us! The old English word for patient is long-suffering. Yes, He has suffered through our willfulness, our selfishness, our rebellion and disobedience. And in spite of all that He shows us great love and is completely trustworthy.

“God loves you and has chosen you as his own special people. So be gentle, kind, humble, meek, and patient. 13  Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you.” Colossians 3:12-13 CEV

Put up with each other – that’s a big calling! Patience is love in action. The Apostle Paul says it was God’s patience that brought him to salvation.

“Here is a true statement that should be accepted without question: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, and I am the worst of them. 16 But I was given mercy so that in me Christ Jesus could show that he has patience without limit. Christ showed his patience with me, the worst of all sinners. He wanted me to be an example for those who would believe in him and have eternal life.” I Timothy 1:15-16 ERV

“God has been kind to you. He has been very patient, waiting for you to change. But you think nothing of his kindness. Maybe you don’t understand that God is kind to you so that you will decide to change your lives.” Romans 2:4 ERV

So, as we plant seeds of patience let’s look at the end result. As we grow, we will become mature, and we will be able to bring others to Christ by showing them the same patience He has shown us.

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Here Comes Calvary

When I was younger, I had a hard time spelling Cavalry and Calvary correctly. I would interchange the two and it certainly would make a difference in sentence comprehension.

However, as I have gotten older, I have, by experience, learned that they are not all that different. Both bring deliverance from the enemy.

Can you imagine what it was like to be Jesus? People live under the impression that since He was God in flesh that everything went well for Him. He was perfect, right? Yes, that’s true; He experienced everything that we do and He did it all without sin.

“Like a young plant or a root that sprouts in dry ground, the servant grew up obeying the LORD. He wasn’t some handsome king. Nothing about the way he looked made him attractive to us. 3 He was hated and rejected; his life was filled with sorrow and terrible suffering. No one wanted to look at him. We despised him and said, ‘He is a nobody!’” Isaiah 53:2-3 CEV

Isaiah prophesied that He was common looking, unattractive and nothing special as far as physical traits. He wasn’t Charles Atlas; he wouldn’t have been the captain of the football team or even voted most likely to succeed. His own family and disciples didn’t understand Him.

One time He was holding a meeting, and his mother and brothers were outside and sent a message to him.

“While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. 47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. 48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? 49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.” Matthew 12:46-50 KJV

If they had truly believed Jesus was God’s Son, the Messiah, would they have interrupted his teaching? Or how about the disciples when they became upset with Jesus because the ship they were in was taking on water and about to sink?

“37 Suddenly a windstorm struck the lake. Waves started splashing into the boat, and it was about to sink. 38 Jesus was in the back of the boat with his head on a pillow, and he was asleep. His disciples woke him and said, ‘Teacher, don’t you care that we’re about to drown?’ 39 Jesus got up and ordered the wind and the waves to be quiet. The wind stopped, and everything was calm.” Mark 4:37-39 CEV

If their faith had really been in Jesus as the Son of God, they would have approached it this way. “Hey, let’s wake Jesus up because He’ll have the answer to our problem. This storm isn’t a surprise to Him. He’ll know what to do.”

I find it encouraging that those who were closest to Jesus had to grow in faith to accept Him for who He said He was, who they knew Him to be. Just like us – when we cry out “Lord, don’t you care I’m about to go under; cancer is about to sink me, the waves of debt are flooding my boat, the storm of rebellious children or a typhoon with my mate is about to capsize me in this ocean? Don’t you care?”

Even when we come to Him in that kind of desperation and fear, He will speak to our storm and say “Peace, be still!” Then He takes time to teach us again – Come boldly to my throne and find help in your time of need. He expects us to accept, by faith, that help is on the way!

In the old Westerns you could always hear the Cavalry bugle before you saw the soldiers. The invitation to come boldly or “to call on me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things” is the sound of the bugle. It’s then our responsibility to “Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day” (Exodus 14:13)

Let God be God in your life today. Don’t limit Him but what you see. Say like Mary, “with God all things are possible”!

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What Are You Holding?

Yesterday we visited an old church, a very old church. It was constructed in the early 4th century. It was built by Constantine the Great at the request of his mother St. Helena who was returning to Rome from a religious pilgrimage.

I tell you this because I thought the church was built in the mid 1500’s and told that to a few people. I was wrong.

I had picked up a pamphlet yesterday and hoped to get a more thorough education as to its history. I took the one that was written in English on the cover however, the language inside is not. What I learned about the church was from further research on-line.

The church is called The Monastery of Panagia Ekatontapiliani, literally meaning the church of 100 doors.

Now why am I giving you this brief history lesson? There is a purpose.

Dave, who has done his fair share of construction, looked at things differently than I did when we toured the church. He was intrigued by the rows of chiseled stone that created the great domes inside the church. They are a marvel to modern engineering. How long did it take to possession them, one applying pressure to another to keep them in place, to keep them from falling.

We began to talk about how many years it must have taken, the skill it required and the dedication for not only the workers but their families. I remember the accounts that are given in the Bible of the skilled craftsmen that built the tabernacle in the wilderness and the those who built the Temple in King Solomon’s day.

“ I have chosen Bezalel from the Judah tribe to make the sacred tent and its furnishings. 3-5 Not only have I filled him with my Spirit, but I have given him wisdom and made him a skilled craftsman who can create objects of art with gold, silver, bronze, precious stones, and wood.” Exodus 31:2-4 CEV

“Solomon also gave orders to make the following temple furnishings out of gold: the altar, the tables that held the sacred loaves of bread,[b] 20 the lampstands and the lamps that burned in front of the most holy place, 21 flower designs, lamps and tongs, 22 lamp snuffers, small sprinkling bowls, ladles, fire pans, and the doors to the most holy place and the main room of the temple.” II Chronicles 4:19-22 CEV

I believe the Lord gave these skills to those workers who built this church also.

So often those working behind the scenes are overlooked but their calling from God is just as great.

When the Lord called Moses to represent Him and deliver the Israelites from Egypt He didn’t call a man who had great leadership skills. In fact, Moses was a shepherd in the desert. God asked Moses a question:

“The Lord answered, ‘What’s that in your hand?’ ‘A walking stick,’ Moses replied.” Exodus 4:2 CEV

If the Lord asked you the same question what would your reply be?

A teacher’s grade book, a nurses’ blood pressure cuff, a mechanics wrench, a programmer’s code, a mother’s apron, a soldier’s weapon, a scientist’s research, a first responders’ training, a fisherman’s lines?

What’s in your hand? Those skilled workers of the 4th century had a heart to build a church that would be used to honor God, a place filled with worship. Their craftsmanship remains as a testimony to their dedication.

Let the Lord use the very tools that He has placed in your hands to do the same!

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