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Dining with the Master
By my wife, Sue
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to dine with the President or someone else of importance?
As I was reading today, my attention was drawn to the thought of dining with Jesus. Wow! Dining with the One who created us; the One who loves us more than anyone else and who showed that love by dying for us! What a privilege! The mind-blowing reality is that we can do just that—dine with Jesus.
In the Old Covenant, the high priest was the only one who could go into the Holy of Holies and then only once a year. Even then it was only those priests who were qualified who could enter the Holy of Holies. All the other priests lived out their lives having never served in that capacity.
But in the New Covenant, according to 1 Pet 2:9, we belong to the royal priesthood and because of the blood of Jesus we are permitted, no invited, to enter into the most Holy place!
Jesus invites us through intercession to join Him at a table set for two. He says in Rev. 3:20, that He’s standing at the door waiting for us to join Him. He desires us to come hungry so that we can be fed from His bountiful table. He has a variety of “food” from which to choose. One day it may be a revelation, the next day it may be reassurance. Another day we may partake of promises that we need to sustain us; and, of course, there is always a supply of the Bread of Life! Our nourishment is awaiting us.
Won’t you go beyond the veil and enter the Holy of Holies to the place of intimacy where you can dine with your Master at the table set for two?
Enter in! He’s waiting for you!
Until next time…”May the LORD bless and protect you…May He give you Shalom.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
Bill
Make Space
Starting in Exodus 25, the rest of Exodus (about 1/3 of the entire book) is primarily devoted to instructions on how to construct the Tabernacle and the process of actually building it. What is going on here? What is God doing having the Israelites make a Tabernacle, a dwelling place? He doesn’t need a place to dwell. In a sense, the entire universe is His dwelling place.
The tabernacle was a “space.” It was a meeting space, a space where the Israelites could worship Him. It was also a space that they could look at and be reminded that He was in their midst.
Does this mean that we are to build more and larger buildings in which to gather to worship Him? No, it means that God wants us to make space and time for Him in every area of our lives. He wants to dwell in us through Messiah Yeshua, via His Holy Spirit, and be included in every area of our lives.
However, because of what is called “free will,” He won’t force us to give Him space in our lives. We must invite Him in. It is the way He made us. But, this isn’t just about becoming “born again”—asking Yeshua to be your Savior. That is the first step but we can do that and still not make space for Him in our daily lives. He wants a relationship, a deep, personal, intimate relationship with you.
How do you develop that relationship? How do you give God space? The same way you developed your relationship with your spouse or best friend—by giving them space in your life. You spent time with them and learned what they were like. You also talked with them about your hopes, plans, and even problems.
So, you give God space by spending time with Him. You learn about Him by reading and studying, yes I said studying, His Word, the Bible. Although He already knows all about you, you still spend time telling Him about your concerns, struggles, interests, needs, and, yes, even your wants. The more space you give Him, the more time you spend with Him, the more intimate the two of you will be, and the better your life will be. I can’t promise that He will make everything “rosy.” I can promise that He will be at your side as He takes you through the highs and lows of life.
Until next time…”May the LORD bless and protect you…May He give you Shalom.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
Bill
Got Troubles?
In Matthew 6:34b Yeshua says that “Today has enough trouble of its own.” We see trouble in our own lives, in the lives of family and friends, or our nation. In Matt 6:34a, Yeshua tells us not to worry about what we will eat, drink, wear. This includes the many other troubles we encounter as well. So, what’s the solution?
The solution is found in the verse before, Matt 6:33: “Seek the Kingdom of God* and His righteousness.**” But, how do we do that? By just being a good person? No, it’s more than that. First, it’s accepting Yeshua as Savior. It’s allowing Him to be the ruler (Lord) of your life. It is in following His commands—living according to them, making Him the focus of our life above everything else.
Does this mean that you and I will never have any problems? No, Yeshua never promised that. He said that we would have tribulations (trials, distress, frustration) in this world. (John 16:33; Acts 14:22) However, He will see us through them (John 16:33; Rom 8:35; Rom 12:12) and will use them to help us grow in our knowledge and faith in Him if we allow Him to do so.
Life’s troubles can also be called “life’s storms”. The Stepping Stones devotion for 2/20-21/2021, “Be Careful and Don’t Be a Storm-Chaser?” talks about life’s storms. I think you will find it enlightening and encouraging. I will post it on this blog on 2/23/2021 at which time this link will become active.
Until next time…”May the LORD bless and protect you…May He give you Shalom.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
Bill
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*The Kingdom of God is the coming time when Messiah Yeshua rules and to which all His followers belong.
**Righteousness is living a life of obedience to God (Gen 6:22). God makes the rules that define morality. Sin is breaking God’s rules. Righteousness is the opposite of sin.
Who Are You Leaning On?
We all lean on something or someone. Leaning is all about trust. Who or what are you trusting? Today’s Lighthouse Network devotional addresses that very subject. I share it with permission.
Lean Away From Yourself … Then Lean On God
February 19, 2021
Transformational Thought
The Music Man is a famous Broadway musical from the ’50s which was made into a fun movie that is one of my all-time favorites. The setting is River City, Iowa, perfect small-town USA. Into that Garden of Eden rolls Harold Hill, an infamous flim-flam con-man who fabricates “Trouble with a capital T,” that is corrupting the youth and singing his famous song, “Ya Got Trouble.” Then he cons the residents into buying a pricey solution. It’s a great movie to watch with the kids, especially if you have one with a lisp as I did as a 5-year-old Ron Howard played the little boy with a lisp.
Listen up for today’s warning: trouble is all around us in today’s society as we’ve been reminded by the realities of Hurricane Sandy, the horrific Sandy Hook Elementary shooting, ISIS, terrible murders and abuses on a daily basis in our own states and the atrocities in every nightly news broadcast. [As well as the unBiblical actions of our government, antisemitism, racism, etc.] Trouble often doesn’t come from outside the home, but usually from our own heart and mind.
Temptation is just around the corner and we are either running towards trouble or away from it. In which direction are you heading? Which way are you leaning? In today’s scripture, Solomon gives us two options regarding trust: God or our own understanding. God is calling us to lean away from the conventional wisdom of self-reliance to find happiness or pain relief. He wants us to lean on (or trust) His wisdom. God wants us to acknowledge His ultimate wisdom and trust Him in every area of our lives.
What should I do about this relationship? Which job should I seek? How will I make the mortgage payment this month? How can I help my daughter? Should I confront that problem or wait? What do I do about this decision? Do I look at that cleavage? Do I eat that extra _____? No matter what challenge or circumstance you are facing, God wants to help. But you have a choice to make. Are you going to lean on your own understanding … or are you going to trust God?
Satan is always playing with our heads, wanting us to build our houses on his sandy foundation. We also wrestle with our own massive inventory of hurts, letdowns, and frustrations. We have unhealed wounds leftover from times when we did trust others only to be let down. All that scar tissue from the past interferes with our willingness to trust and be vulnerable again with others. The message society tries to drive home is, “You can only rely on and trust yourself.”
Leaning is all about trust. When you lean against a wall, you trust that the wall won’t collapse … that it will support your weight. If you are going to lean on God, you need to be ready to trust Him fully. So interview Him. Is He wise enough to help you? Is He interested in helping you? Does He understand your situation? Does He know what is really best for you and for everyone involved? Is His timing fast enough for your agenda? Does He love you? Is He willing to sacrifice for your growth?
If you are willing to study the Scriptures with an open heart and mind, you will soon discover that the answer to all these questions is a resounding and powerful “YES.” God loves you with a love so great that you can’t begin to fathom it. His wisdom knows no bounds. Lean away from self-reliance and stop trying to do it all yourself. Begin leaning on God today. If not God, then who is worthy and able to sustain you during the storms of your life? Certainly not you!
Today, compare your track record to God’s. No contest. Then, look at an area in which you struggle. Write down how you are leaning on your own understanding. Then write down God’s instruction for that issue. Make an effort today to trust and follow God’s instruction and direction and put aside your own. Whether you lean on God and stay standing upright or you lean on yourself and this world and fall on your face is your decision, so choose well.
Prayer
O Almighty God, I do want to trust You so that I can truly lean on You. Help me to spend time with the Scriptures and teach me to learn how they apply to me. Help me understand how the scars from my past still interfere with my willingness to be fully vulnerable to You and Your purpose, direction, and plan for my life. I ask for the courage to live with the uncertainty and concern that I feel when I am not in control. Am I ever really in control of my life anyway? Help me to trust You and lean on Your wisdom. I pray in the name of the One I lean toward, Jesus Christ; and all God’s children say – AMEN!
The Truth
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
The post Lean Away From Yourself … Then Lean On God appeared first on Lighthouse Network.
Until next time…”May the LORD bless and protect you…May He give you Shalom.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
Bill
Thought for 2/18/2021
God’s way is perfect! All of the Lord’s promises prove true! He is a shield for all who look to Him for protection.
Psalm 18:30
Until next time…”May the LORD bless and protect you…May He give you Shalom.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
Bill
Super Bowling?
Are You “Super Bowling” Everyday Life?
Feb 5, 2021 Stepping Stones devotion from Lighthouse Network.org. Shared with permission.
Transformational Thought
Super Bowl Sunday has basically become a national holiday. With 120+ million viewers, it’s the most-watched TV show, charging $5 million for a 30-second commercial. It is second to Thanksgiving as the day the most food is eaten. On this day record numbers of employees “call-out-sick.” One billion wings are eaten, the most pizzas are ordered and guacamole is eaten, and it’s one of the heaviest beer, soda, and chip consumption days. Tragically, Super Bowl Sunday is also the worst day of the year for gambling, domestic violence, and sex trafficking.
The Super Bowl itself is an unbelievable event … so much emotion, buildup, and expectations. The winner is remembered and worshipped forever, and the loser is branded a choker … forever, unless they get back to the Super Bowl again and win. The commercials, halftime mega-shows, plays, players, and personalities are seared in our minds or become societal icons.
One Super Bowl a year is enough, just ask my wife. Can you imagine if we had 4 a year, one per month, or heaven forbid, weekly Super Bowls? We would be overwhelmed, on edge, emotionally spent, fed up, bankrupt, hung-over, and paralyzed on a regular basis.
But you see, life can be viewed the same way. We have “Super Bowl” events … meeting God, getting married, birth of a child, losing a close loved one, starting day 1 on our dream job, taking grand vacations, starting school, helping a child leave for college, learning a child has a disability, having an affair, experiencing divorce, getting fired, coping with a natural disaster, 9/11. You get the idea … they don’t happen every week (for anybody). Then we have some “playoff game” events whose immediate and long-term impact are important but smaller than the Super Bowl events. Some other life events rank on the very-important-regular-season-game level. And most other events have the importance and impact of a preseason game
Brace yourself for a reality check, 98% of your day, your life, is either a regular season game or even a preseason game in level of importance and impact. The problem: we react to many of our daily events as if they had the importance and impact of a Super Bowl or playoff game. Need some proof? Just look at how intense your reactions are to small things in your day that you won’t even remember a couple days later. They aren’t that important? Unlike Super Bowl big plays, we forget most issues in our life within 1-15 days.
We can’t handle the emotional rollercoaster of 6 Super Bowls a year, let alone 3 Super Bowls a day. But for many, the emotional reaction to several events in a day is fairly extreme. We tend to elevate that event to major impact level when it really isn’t, especially when we don’t get our way or our planned agenda isn’t happening. While few people are “drama queens,” most people fall into the Super Bowl mentality trap. We erroneously feel many things in life are all-important and react to them as life-changing, when they actually aren’t.
Patients, both male and female, tell me they’ve been impacted by one question I’ve asked, namely, “Does that event really rate the ‘Super Bowl’ level of importance you are giving it?” That question really helps people gain a more eternal, realistic, and Godly perspective about everyday events.
Today, remember that Super Bowl-magnitude events usually occur once, twice, or maybe three times a year. So look at how you react to minor daily disruptions and ask yourself, “Is this situation really a Super Bowl event in magnitude and long term impact, or am I having an exaggerated response?” If you are inappropriately “Super Bowling” it, ask yourself “Why?” and “How often do I do this?” and “Am I becoming dependent on something that, when taken away, seems like a Super Bowl level loss to me?” Parents, you’ll probably be amazed as you contemplate your reactions to your kid’s behavior. Whether you see each day’s events from a Godly, realistic perspective or you over-react and Super Bowl the minor events of your day is your decision, so choose well.
Prayer
Dear Father God, thanks for being sovereign over all things. This truth, and my faith in Your sovereignty gives me such peace in most situations. I confess though, that sometimes I over-react to the spiritual warfare and minutiae of the day and give them a Super Bowl level of importance. Give me discernment and the Mind of Christ to realize what really is important and what isn’t. I pray this in the name of the greatest “Super Bowl” event of all time, Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection; And all God’s children say – AMEN!
The Truth
And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Luke 12:25,26
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:15-17
The post Are You “Super Bowling” Everyday Life? appeared first on Lighthouse Network.
Until next time…”May the LORD bless and protect you…May He give you Shalom.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
Bill
Launch Out Into the Deep!
The following is a guest post by my wife, Sue…
Launching out is scary and it is risky. You don’t know what is waiting for you or whether you will be able to handle the unknown. You could be risking your life, your comfort, your security—many things. However, Jesus wants us to launch out when He calls us. If we want to know experientially who Jesus is and our destiny in Him, we must cast off our fears, leave our comfort zone, and launch out into the deep with Him. In doing so, we will learn more about Jesus and dive deeper into our intimacy with Him.
In Matt 14, Peter was told by Jesus to come and walk on the water. Peter risked stepping out of the boat but as soon as he took his eyes off of Jesus and looked at the waves, he cried out in fear. Immediately, Jesus was there to reach out His hand to Peter. Jesus said, “Come,” but Peter doubted that he would reach the boat.
In this life we face many trials. We invite Jesus into those trials but as soon as we are confronted with overwhelming circumstances, we cry out to Him for deliverance. The Lord wants to do more than deliver us; He wants to develop us! As with Job, satan has permission from God to bring trials into our lives in order to develop our character. In Luke 22, Jesus states that He had prayed for Peter. Jesus is our intercessor as well. He is sitting at the right hand of Father God, interceding for us! The Father always hears and answers the prayers of His Son.
In Luke 22:32, Jesus’ prayer for Peter was that Peter’s faith would not fail and that after the trial, Peter would strengthen his brethren. Our tests are also to test our commitment to the Lord. He wants us to realize the depths of His love, His power, His faithfulness, and His trustworthiness. Through these trials we can develop a deeper relationship with Him with a deeper faith at deeper levels than we have ever known.
We will never grow spiritually continually remaining on the mountaintops. In the valleys is where we find who we are and who Jesus is to us. The joy of intimacy is found in the risks of our journey with Jesus. He prepares us for service and to reach our destiny as we discover that He is there with us in the hardships of life. Our faith will grow under pressure. Our experiences will develop sensitivity and sympathy for others who are facing hardships. They will know that they can overcome life because they see that we have overcome!
In conclusion, the two benefits of testing are: spiritual growth and development, and sensitivity and sympathy to help others.
Launch out into the deep with Jesus!
Until next time…”May the LORD bless and protect you…May He give you Shalom.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
Bill
How to Cause Change
Want to change what us going on around you? First look at yourself and the strength and intimacy of your relationship with Yeshua. You must change, actually permit the Holy Spirit of God to change, what is going on within you before you can change what is going on around you. This principle applies whether you want to change things in your personal life, work life, or in society.
Until next time…”May the LORD bless and protect you…May He give you Shalom.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
Bill
Judging Life’s Events
(This popped up in my Facebook Memories. It is from Jan 11, 2016. I thought it was worth reposting, given recent events).
How do you, how do I, judge the events of our lives? Do you, as I, occasionally have difficulty judging them and then responding appropriately? Do we always respond in the same manner to all difficult events?
Ecc 3 tells us that our Father, the creator of all things, has made (arranged) everything to fit perfectly in the appropriate time. However, the amount of awareness He has given us is not enough for us to fully comprehend the full impact of what He does, of what He allows to happen in the world and in our individual lives.
Do we yield to the temptation to always respond in the same way to every event? Or do we seek out the appropriate response from His Word, by His Spirit? Yeshua promises us rest if we respond with humility and faith, seeking and expecting to learn from Him (Matt 11:29).
In order to respond in faith as He expects, we should rely on His Word and His Spirit to judge each event of our lives. I think that this includes what, from our perspective, is either good or bad. If we aren’t seeking to be aware of His purpose for what He is doing in our lives, we could fall into the trap of thinking that we are blessed because we are “good” or “sin-free”, or that things are tough because we are sinning or because the enemy is attacking us. Either or both could be true, but our Father is a teacher and is always molding us and will use everything that happens for our development if we permit Him to (Rom 8:28).
Until next time…”May the LORD bless and protect you…May He give you Shalom.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
Bill
Diagnosis: Dehydration; Cure: Living Water
January 12, 2021
Diagnosis: Dehydration; Cure: Living Water is from today’s Stepping Stones daily devotional)
Transformational Thought
When I was a kid, people weren’t obsessed about health. Fitness clubs didn’t exist, nobody ran unless they had to, grease and butter were an actual food group, fast food was the new Utopia, and cigarettes were just a smelly habit. Now my wife says my Fruit Loops aren’t healthy. She keeps putting vegetables on my plate even though the only vegetable I like is french fries. Our generation must be the last of the ‘meat and potatoes’ species as we seem headed for extinction.
It gets even worse. Everywhere I go nowadays, I see water bottles. I still have a hard time paying for water, but it seems like we have bottles of it all over the house. Martine and my girls tell me water is healthy for me. I only get a drink at meals, and sometimes skip lunch. So they get on my case because I don’t drink enough. Well, the experts seem to agree with them. They say that if you feel thirsty, you are most likely already dehydrated. A recent report title said it all: “You are not sick … you are just thirsty.” All the medical experts agree that we need to drink water continually through our day. So it seems like we are all dehydrated.
Well, not only are we physically thirsty, but we are born spiritually thirsty as well … empty … dry. All of our “sickness” is actually due to our spiritual dehydration. You see, we constantly thirst for God … His love, acceptance, and security. Only He can fill these essential needs. Only through Him do we find purpose, fulfillment, contentment, connection, engagement, passion, competence, peace, joy … and especially, pure and true love.
But we are constantly using “spoiled,” even poisoned, water to substitute for the true living water that only God, through Jesus, truly is. But Satan is sharp. He doesn’t put the poisoned water in a bottle with a big ‘X’ on it. He doesn’t place a “Poison Warning” or skull and crossbones on the label. No! He packages this poison in an attractive, fancy bottle, with an enticing ad and alluring promises on the label. Drinking this contaminated water leads to depression, anxiety, addictions, hopelessness, anger, brokenness, stress, agitation, loneliness, and frustration. Still we drink it, thinking it actually cures these problems.
It sounds as though it would be easy to avoid. Why do we still drink that poisoned water? One reason is that we don’t drink regularly from the streams of living water provided by our Father. Then once we become dehydrated, out of desperation and discomfort we grab any bottle to sooth ourselves, thinking something is better than nothing. That is like drinking salt water when you are thirsty. Instead of making the situation better, it actually becomes dangerous.
Today, commit to taking sips, or short prayers, of living water. Confess a sin immediately. Stop to thank God for a blessing you take for granted. Ask His advice on an issue. Tell someone why God makes a difference in your life. Take sips throughout the day from the river of living waters offered by Your Lord and God. Whether you take in His living water regularly, or you wait until you’re dehydrated is your decision, so choose well.
Prayer
Dear Father God, I am so thirsty, Lord, and I know this means I am spiritually dehydrated. Daily, my tank is low and I thirst for more. Please give me wisdom to avoid contaminated water. Help me, Father, to drink and eat only what is good for me so that my soul may delight itself in Your abundance. Help me not to be complacent, but instead, to talk to You and recognize You more often in my day. I pray in the name of the One who died so I might drink from the living waters, Jesus Christ; and all God’s children say – AMEN!
The Truth
On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” John 7:37-38
Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; and you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come; buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance. Isaiah 55:1-2
Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water?” Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.” John 4:10, 11,13-15
The post Diagnosis: Dehydration; Cure: Living Water appeared first on Lighthouse Network.
Until next time…”May the LORD bless and protect you…May He give you Shalom.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
Bill
WJB's Turn 