Numbers 20, Psalm 58, Psalm 59, Isaiah 9:8-10:4, James 3

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Numbers 20             Moses said, “Hear now, you rebels!” Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly – The Lord spoke to Moses, “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”

            Not by Faith, but out of anger did Moses serve the Lord God. Therefore God was not seen as Holy by the witnesses. The consequence? No Promised Land for Moses. How many times do my emotions over rule my trust in God and His Word? How many witnesses of my words and actions have I turned away from God? How many ways do I circumvent Jesus’ Glory by my own self interests? How many “promised land” situations have I been cut off from because of this!? Jesus, I willfully, actively choose to think and act by faith and trusting Your Word/ Relationship so that I do not focus on what so easily ensnares me. (1)

Psalm 58 , Psalm 59, Isaiah 9:8-10:4, James 3 –

               The wicked … go astray, speaking lies. Their poison is like the poison of a serpent; The mighty gather against me, Not for my transgression nor for my sin, O Lord.For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips, And for the cursing and lying which they speak. Psalm 58-59

               The tongue is a little member and boasts great things. The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. … it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. No man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men…  James 3

            Lord, am I double minded and forked tongued? Do I say and do what I think and feel? Please have mercy on me and reveal to me my innermost motives, desires and Your Truth perspectives. If I do not yield to You, You will overtake me by wrathful force. (2)

              Because of this, He shall take them away as with a whirlwind, As in His living and burning wrath. .. Consume them in wrath, consume them, And let them know that God rules in Jacob To the ends of the earth. … the Lord shall set up the adversaries against him, the Lord will cut off … Through the wrath of the Lord of hosts The land is burned up. Psalm 58-59, Isaiah 9:8-10:4

              I fear both Your just judgment and wrath as well as losing Your peace, joy and intimacy in relationship with You. I confess to You the realty of my fickleness. I hate sin!

Who say in pride and arrogance of heart: “We will rebuild with hewn stones; We will replace them with cedars.” For the people do not turn to Him who strikes them, Nor do they seek the Lord of hosts. Isaiah 9:8-10:4

              I surrender to You, Lord Jesus Christ, my willfulness to do things my own way, as I see fit without doing Your Word and Holy Spirit counsel. I purpose my mind to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” and have my tongue, hands and feet move according to Your Holy Spirit. (5)

Your judgments are clear:

              “Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, Who write misfortune, Which they have prescribed To rob the needy of justice, Without Me they shall bow down among the prisoners, And they shall fall among the slain.” Isaiah 9:8-10:4

Yet You say FOUR TIMES in Isaiah 9:8-10:4

“For all this His anger is not turned away, But His hand is stretched out still.”

             You reach out to me and to all of us – “Come to Me!” “For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!”  Rejecting my usual patterns, turning away from sinful relationships, not wasting time, not looking at useless information, abhorring addictions, habits and weak mindsets is Your Requirement for holiness! Step by step, day by day, I will live Your success by Your Way! (3)

The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance;  So that men will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous; Surely He is God who judges in the earth.” I will wait for You, For God is my defense. My God of mercy shall come to meet me; Psalm 58-59

              Repentance’s fruit is Sweet! What Peace, Joy and Freedom to be unselfish and not needy when I walk in repentance! Repentance takes time, practice, pain without regret and a lot of work by Repeatedly Doing Your thoughts and Your Ways. But the Refreshment and Still waters are more than worth it!! Thanks my Mentor and Power, Lord God Jesus Christ! (4)  

But I will sing of Your power; Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; For You have been my defense And refuge in the day of my trouble. To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises; For God is my defense, My God of mercy. Psalm 58-59

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. James 3

 

Crystal (PsalmThirty4)

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Genesis 49, Luke 2, Job 15, 1 Corinthians 3

The shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about. So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. Luke 2:15-18

For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of people, a light for the revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people

This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be assigned that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. Luke 2:30-32,34-35

Anna a prophetess and widow until the age of eighty four, never left the temple, worshipping night and day, fasting and praying. She gave thanks to God and spoke about Jesus to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

Would a wise man answer with empty notions…? Would he argue with useless words, with speeches that have no value? But you even undermine piety and hinder devotion to God. Your sin prompts your mouth; you adopt the tongue of the crafty. Your own mouth condemns you, not mine; your own lips testify against you. Job15:2-6

I cried when I read these verses because I felt so convicted. How many people have heard about Jesus from my lips lately? I’ve been spending more time talking trash than treasure.

Jesus reigns at the right hand of the Father in heaven, but is he reigning in my life? Or have I relegated him to the stable with the cows and chickens while I gather more manure to spread around?

Everybody Luke talked about in his gospel put feet to their faith when they met Jesus. It’s time I got back on track with the race marked out for me.

Lord, please forgive me for wasting the precious time you have blessed me with. Keep me from playing with wood, stubble and hay and the fire that would consume the things that don’t last. Get me jogging toward heavenly streets of gold carrying in my heart the treasure of salvation through Jesus Christ in this body of mine that is nothing more than a jar of clay.

yicareggie

Numbers 20, Psalm 58 & 59, Isaiah 9:8-10:4, James 3

I started off today’s reading in the wilderness, with grumbly mumbly Israel.

Moses and Aaron are thrown on their faces in the presence of Glory. The Lord spoke,

“Take the staff… tell the rock…”
but instead, Moses told the people, and struck the rock, twice!

Then God said,

“Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy… therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.” Num.20:12

At that moment surely Moses was wishing he’d stayed on his face a little longer where the Glory was. I’m like Moses, often. I say too much. It was natural for Moses to be frustrated with those obstinate, whining, forgetful people… but the only appropriate place for retching frustration is while face down, before the LORD.

“God, I get tired of boiling over, scalding the people around me…”

For wickedness burns like a fire;
it consumes…
it kindles…
rolls upward in a column of smoke. Is.9:18

…how great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!
And the tongue is a fire…full of deadly poison. James 3:5-6,8

David sings denouncing his enemies and demanding justice (aka: complaining). In the very last part of his song I learn a secret. While waiting for the Lord to act…

“I will sing of your strength;
I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.” Ps.59:16

When things get tough and I’m about to leak out verbal vengeance onto these precious rebel children who daily surround me… In meekness of wisdom, I must fall down on my face in the presence of Glory, hand over control and uphold holiness by exchanging pain inflicting words for songs of praise to God.

“…the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” James 3:17-18

Lord, I need You desperately.
You are holy.  I am a sinner. You know me well.

I fall face down in the presence of Your glory.

Thank you for sanctifying this sputtering spring.
I long to overflow purely fresh and sincere praise.

amy in peru