We Will Remember

You shall not eat leavened bread with it; seven days you shall eat
with it unleavened bread, the bread of affliction (for you came out of
the land if Egypt in haste), so that you will remember all the days of
your life the day you came out of the land of Egypt.

Deuteronomy 16:3

God is always teaching us to remember where we came from. This isn't
to punish us by reliving the past, no. In fact it's the opposite,
it's to prevent us from making the same mistakes over and over. God
instructed the Israelites to build alters, write things on our heads
and recite Scriptures daily with a purpose, to remember the Creator
and all He's done.

In our lives today we cannot grow as Christians unless we remember
where we came from... a life of slavery and bondage. The Israelites
were slaves to the Egyptians just as we were slaves to the world
around us. And we, like the Israelites, want to turn back to our old
ways of sin sometimes when life gets a little rough. How do we break
free from this cycle of rejection? We need to refocus on the awe of
God, the unconditional love of Christ Jesus. As Romans 8:39 says,
'nothing can separate us from the love that is in Christ Jesus our
Lord." He will place things around us when we feel like giving up, we
need to remember His promise.

Good and faithful Father, thank You for blessing Your children with
reminders everywhere so that we never forget Your amazing grace. Help
my eyes be opened and heart receptive to Your path. Amen!

Building Blocks

"Do not forsake me, O LORD; O my God, do not be far from me! Make
haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation!"

Psalm 38:21-22

This psalm by David captures sorrow, pain and anguish. The feeling I
get is someone at the end of their rope clinging on to dear life. I
don't know what was going on in his life but if I were to place it in
the time of maybe his greatest lows it would be after Nathan
prophesied to him. But the key point here is not the fall but the
hope. Knowing God will always be there for him even though he didn't
see or hear Him; even when he sinned against Him.

I haven't been in this kind of pain before but I really feel his
struggles with my own strongholds. Some self-inflicted others
externally. But no matter how bad I think I have it I have something
so glorious that trumps everything... Jesus! Too often I allow
disappointment, conflict & misunderstandings to be my lord. I cannot
continue to do this. How can I lead my family if I'm weak? How can I
lead the body of Christ if I cannot hold onto God's word? These are
lessons and building blocks... accept the opportunity.

Loving Father, thank You for crafting me in my mother's womb. I pray
Lord that I recognize the holy and reject the impure within me. I
pray that I build Your temple within my heart so that Your kingdom
will grow mightily. Amen!

Pit Stop not Home

"You shall not do at all what we are doing here today, every man doing
what is right in his own eyes; for you have not as yet come to the
resting place and the inheritance which the LORD your God is giving
you."

Deuteronomy 12:8-9

When we do things as we deem fit we are automatically passing over the
eternal for the temporary. Doing things God's way, on the other hand,
involves a sacrifice for something eternal, something much greater.
This scripture reminded the Israelites that where they were wasn't
home. God had prepared a wonderful place for them and when you keep
that the focus you will be in God's covering. Focusing in where you
are standing today leads to selfishness.

Last night in small group we talked a little about fasting (Mk 2) and
that fasting introduces an element of sacrifice and spiritual growth
(among other things). We sacrifice a meal, a habbit, something we
rely on for temporary gain, for something much greater. This kind of
ties into where our home is. We shouldn't set camp by unloading
everything we have and investing in a pit stop. We are to invest in
home... His prepared palace!

Father God, thank You for making everything fit so precisely according
to Your plans. I pray that I'm reminded everyday that I'm a sojourner
in this world, not a resident. Love You Jesus! Amen!