Category: Deuteronomy

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Be Encouraged!

Have you ever had an Eeyore kind of day? You know what I’m talking about – nothing seems to be going right. You’re up and ready for that first cup of coffee and find you’re out of your favorite creamer or maybe you overslept and don’t even have time for the first cup.

Then there’s the traffic on the way to work and it’s moving at a snail’s pace. The big meeting that was scheduled for 11 has been moved up to 9:30 and you’re not ready…

These are just small things but they can get you down. What about the real crises that present themselves? The “cancer” diagnosis that you just received, the loss of your job or the loss of a loved one – these make the minor obstacles dim in comparison. What do we do? How do we handle this? Sometimes we just can’t do it on our own; we need someone to help.

Be encouraged!

I’ve been reading about the Israelites journey in the desert. They were a bunch of complainers if ever there were any. They complained about the water, the food, the people, they complained about God. They are the kind who would have complained that their ice cream was cold. Really, they had an issue with ingratitude.

One man, Joshua, had been Moses’ assistant through all of this and the Lord had just chosen him to be Moses successor. Not a job that you would choose for yourself. This is what the Lord told Moses.

“…commission Joshua and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead the people across the Jordan. He will give them all the land you now see before you as their possession.” Deuteronomy 3:27-28 NLT

The Lord knew what these people were like and the challenges Joshua would face so He wanted Moses to see that he was encouraged for the job ahead. Do you ever feel that a job or challenge is just too big for you? Isn’t it great when someone comes along side and encourages you to keep going? They tell you, you can do this – don’t quit!

Just in case Joshua wasn’t encouraged enough by the words of Moses, God spoke to him personally with this.

“Joshua, you must be strong and brave! You must lead these people so that they can take their land. I promised their fathers that I would give them this land. 7 But you must be strong and brave about obeying the commands my servant Moses gave you. If you follow his teachings exactly, you will be successful in everything you do. 8 Always remember what is written in that book of law. Speak about that book and study it day and night. Then you can be sure to obey what is written there. If you do this, you will be wise and successful in everything you do. 9 Remember, I commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid, because the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:6-9 ERV

Don’t be afraid because the Lord will be with you wherever you go! Take that personally. __________________(fill in the blank with your name) don’t be afraid wherever you go because the Lord is going with you.

It’s great to have the encouragement of a friend but so much greater to have the Lord as your cheerleader and counsellor.

Maybe you don’t need to be encouraged today, maybe things are going great. Praise God! Look around and see if you can find anyone that you can encourage – you may have just the words or the hug they need to make it through the day.

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Honoring Our Mother & Father

We’ve had the pleasure of having my mother with us for the last ten days. She is ninety-six and lives about four hours away. It’s been so good to have her here. During her stay we were visited by our youngest daughter and her family on one weekend and this last weekend our son came to see Gram. Our oldest daughter wasn’t able to make it, she was out-of-state welcoming her first granddaughter into the world.

Mom was so blessed to be surrounded by her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She had a big smile on her face most of the time. (She got weary at times and took a nap, I did too.) Mom held the littlest one in her arms, watched the two and four year old play, told stories to the adult grandchildren of their childhoods and relived the milestones of her life with them. It was amazing!

It was truly a wonderful expression of one of God’s commands.

“You must honor your father and your mother. The Lord your God has commanded you to do this. If you follow this command, you will live a long time, and everything will go well for you in the land that the Lord your God gives you.” Deuteronomy 5:16 ERV

Mom will be with us one more day and I will miss not having her here. She lives with my sister and her family; they take very good care of her. I will miss tucking her in at night and praying with her. Very few adults my age are blessed to still have living parents.

But we all have a loving heavenly Father. He is our Father who lives forever and who is as close to us as our next breath. He desires to tell us stories of His past. In fact, He wrote them down and put them in a wonderful book for us to read, the Bible. He wants to tell us all about His plans for our life, the good things He has in store.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen.” Jeremiah 29:11-12 NLT

There are several words in the Bible that can be interchanged for the word honor; praise and bless are just two of them. We honor the Lord when we obey Him; when we magnify or exalt His word above all others we honor Him.

“I will honor the Lord at all times. His praise will always be in my mouth. 2 My soul will be proud to tell about the Lord. Let those who suffer hear it and be filled with joy. 3 Give great honor to the Lord with me. Let us praise His name together.” Psalm 34:1-3 NLV

As long as our parents are living we should give them honor and as long as we are living we should give our Father honor and praise. It’s just the right thing to do.

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Choosing Sides

Whose side are you on anyway?

Have you ever asked that question or been asked that question? Choosing sides in an argument can be risky business. Choosing sides in life is a necessity!

There are political affiliations, sports teams, environmental issues, auto preferences, dietary selections and those are just the trivial. Each day our life is filled with decisions, choosing one side over another.

But there isn’t always two sides to every story or situation. Joshua, the leader of Israel, found that out very quickly.

“One day, Joshua was near Jericho when he saw a man standing some distance in front of him. The man was holding a sword, so Joshua walked up to him and asked, “Are you on our side or on our enemies’ side?” 14 “Neither,” he answered. “I am here because I am the commander of the Lord’s army.” Joshua fell to his knees and bowed down to the ground. “I am your servant,” he said. “Tell me what to do.” 15 “Take off your sandals,” the commander answered. “This is a holy place.” So Joshua took off his sandals.” Joshua 5:13-15 CEV

It’s not my side or your side of things that’s important. It’s God side. If we want to be right, we need to be on God’s side and then there is no other side. Joshua immediately recognized what he needed to do, he needed to be on God’s side. He recognized God’s authority and made himself, and as a result the children of Israel, subservient to the Lord.

There are many choices before us. The important thing is to choose the premise or foundation for our lives that we are willing to build everything else on. Then we make the smaller decisions line up with our foundational purpose and we have true direction.

“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! 20 You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Deuteronomy 30:19-20 NLT

The winning side is always the best and when God is leading there should be no hesitation. Whose side are you on?

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Christmas Tradition

When I worked outside the home, I always started my Christmas decorating the day after Thanksgiving. I had the day off, guests were gone and I’ve never been one to shop on Black Friday.

This last week while cleaning, I was also preparing the house for today. Moving small pieces of furniture to make a place for the tree and the different nativities I put out.

It’s Tradition! Another word for tradition is purpose.

My first memories of Christmas are of my daddy, with his big Bible, reading the Christmas story on Christmas morning. After he finished reading, he led our family in prayer. This was the focal point of our day. After Dave and I were married, he read the same account from Luke 2 and then one of us would lead our family in prayer.

There were Christmases when the gifts were few but it didn’t spoil the day. Christmas was never been about us and what we got. The focus had always been on Christ and what He gave. His birth was and is our reason for celebration.

There are many things we do during the Christmas season, they each have a purpose. The nativity is the center piece of our Christmas decorations; the special carols, the Christmas stockings that Mom and now, I, have made for our family, the books on the coffee table, kringla (a Norwegian cookie) and the peanut butter balls are all reminders of love of family and love for the Lord.. If we forget the reason for the season, it’s just another commercial holiday that leaves us feeling empty and disappointed with “that’s all I got”.

As parents and grandparents it’s our responsibility to see that the traditions we establish point upward to Jesus and not inward to self.

“I taught you the laws and rules that the Lord my God commanded me. I did this so you could obey them in the land you are ready to enter and take for your own. 6 Obey these laws carefully. This will show the people of the other nations that you are wise and sensible. They will hear about these laws and say, ‘Truly, the people of this great nation are wise and sensible.’

7 “The Lord our God is near when we ask him to help us. No other nation has a god like that! 8 And no other nation is great enough to have laws and rules as good as the teachings I give you today. 9 But you must be careful! Be sure that as long as you live you never forget what you have seen. You must teach these things to your children and grandchildren. 10 Remember the day you stood before the Lord your God at Mount Horeb. The Lord said to me, ‘Gather the people together to listen to what I have to say. Then they will learn to respect me as long as they live on earth. And they will teach these things to their children.’ ” Deuteronomy 4:5-10 ERV

It’s never too early or too late to start a tradition! Fill your Christmas season with purpose!

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Loaded Up

Here we are just a few days before Thanksgiving and other than the grocery store commercials not a lot is being said about this day that was set aside for giving thanks. The focus is already on the Christmas shopping season and it has been for several weeks now.

It seems that less and less time is allotted for thankfulness. Our hearts should be overflowing with thankfulness. God has been gracious and kind. There may have been disappointments and even heart aches in the last year but God remains faithful and trustworthy.

He continues to bring blessings and benefits into our lives.

“Do not be misled, my beloved brothers and sisters. 17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of lights [the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens], in whom there is no variation [no rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [for He is perfect and never changes]. 18 It was of His own will that He gave us birth [as His children] by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits of His creatures [a prime example of what He created to be set apart to Himself—sanctified, made holy for His divine purposes]. 19 Understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Let everyone be quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words and], slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving]; ” James 1:16-19 AMP

He is the giver of every good and perfect gift and He does not change. We need to listen more and murmur less. This will definitely bring us closer to thankful hearts.

“Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.” Psalm 68:19 NKJV

Daily, He loads us up with benefits…Selah means stop and think.

Yesterday I stopped in at our local grocery store to pick up a few things that I wanted to have on hand for our Thanksgiving meal next week. I saw a number of people who had their shopping carts loaded to the top. It made of think of this verse. I consider a full shopping cart to be a benefit from the Lord. Loaded up. I remember the days when we had very little in our weekly grocery budget and so my cart was never loaded. A full shopping cart always makes me grateful; I’m thankful for the blessing of enough to eat.

“After you eat and are full, give praise to the Lord your God for the good land he gave you. 11 Make sure that you never forget the Lord or disobey his laws and teachings that I am giving you today. If you always obey them, 12 you will have plenty to eat, and you will build good houses to live in.” Deuteronomy 8:10-12 CEV

As you go about your day, Stop and Think about the ways the Lord has been good to you. I guarantee it will make you thankful!

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Don’t Slide Back

There seems to be a theme to this week’s blogs. A few days ago I shared about being firmly planted. Nothing beats a good solid foundation! Then yesterday I shared how the Lord wants us freed from shame. We are forgiven but things in our past can side line us if we let them. Today I want to tie the two of them together.

Ever been in that place where you’ve lost traction, no forward momentum, and you’re stuck? Me too; literally, emotionally and spiritually. Several years ago while living in Montana, Dave and I went up to cut our Christmas tree. We backed off on a side road to turn around and slid 70 yds down the mountainside. Two hours later, we were finally back on the main road and headed home. Inch by inch we gained ground but we had to make sure we had good traction and that meant cutting pine boughs to put under the wheels – we needed a firm foundation.

Well I’ve had those experiences emotionally as well. A failure or hurt can be daunting. Friends leave, loved ones don’t understand and so we can get stuck in our failure and live in self-pity or even become suicidal. Maybe you’ve had a “tremendous” sin in your life that has held you back from serving God. Leaving you with the thought that God couldn’t possibly love or forgive you after what you have done. He can, He does and He already has.

“So we, too, should run the race that is before us and never quit. We should remove from our lives anything that would slow us down and the sin that so often makes us fall. 2 We must never stop looking to Jesus. He is the leader of our faith, and he is the one who makes our faith complete. He suffered death on a cross. But he accepted the shame of the cross as if it were nothing because of the joy he could see waiting for him. And now he is sitting at the right side of God’s throne. 3 Think about Jesus. He patiently endured the angry insults that sinful people were shouting at him. Think about him so that you won’t get discouraged and stop trying.” Hebrews 12:1-3

You notice, it says we are to remove from our lives the things that slow us down. Moses said the same thing to the nation of Israel – you choose.

“Today I am giving you a choice of two ways. And I ask heaven and earth to be witnesses of your choice. You can choose life or death. The first choice will bring a blessing. The other choice will bring a curse. So choose life! Then you and your children will live. 20 You must love the LORD your God and obey him. Never leave him, because he is your life. And he will give you a long life in the land that he, the LORD, promised to give to your ancestors—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Deuteronomy 30:19-20

To go on with God we need a couple things; one, to be looking in the right direction – looking forward and looking up and then two, we need good traction – something solid beneath our feet.

“Jesus Christ did the things God wanted him to do. And because of that, we are made holy through the sacrifice of Christ’s body. Christ made that sacrifice one time—enough for all time…19. And so, brothers and sisters, we are completely free to enter the Most Holy Place. We can do this without fear because of the blood sacrifice of Jesus. 20 We enter through a new way that Jesus opened for us. It is a living way that leads through the curtain—Christ’s body. 21 And we have a great priest who rules the house of God. 22 Sprinkled with the blood of Christ, our hearts have been made free from a guilty conscience, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. So come near to God with a sincere heart, full of confidence because of our faith in Christ. 23 We must hold on to the hope we have, never hesitating to tell people about it. We can trust God to do what he promised.” Hebrews 10:10-14, 19-23

The solid foundation Christ has given us is His sacrifice; it provides us with forgiveness and a right relationship with God (that’s our traction), it gets us out of the ditch of self-pity and unworthiness. The blood of Christ can and has cleansed us from a guilty conscience and put us on the right road with God.

When we’re wrapped up in guilt, and we all go there from time to time, we’re looking the wrong direction. (not choosing the right things) The victory comes in looking at Jesus – looking forward, not back. Looking back, we magnify our failures and sin; looking forward we magnify Jesus and what He did for us on the cross.

So get on track and move forward looking to Jesus and don’t get “stuck” in your past.

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Choose Wisely

Friday – Are you thinking about what you’ll do this weekend? Maybe you’ve planned to be at the kids soccer or football games. Possibly taking the weekend away for one more trip to the mountains before it gets too chilly. Or maybe you’ve decided to just stay home and get some yardwork done. Better yet, just stay home and relax.

Choose wisely!

We make choices everyday. Some only effect us for the moment but others direct us for a lifetime. It amazes me how some people think that if they choose to follow the Lord their lives will be rigid, sad and no fun at all. They have a misconception of the Father. He gives us a choice, we have a free will. There is one choice that brings us to life and blessing and another that brings destruction and death. Moses told the children of Israel that God was giving them a choice:

“But if your heart turns away and you refuse to listen, and if you are drawn away to serve and worship other gods, 18 then I warn you now that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live a long, good life in the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy.

19 “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! 20 You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Deuteronomy 30:17-21 CEV

Moses made it very plain that the choice belonged to the people. However, he went on to say the best option was to choose life! Jesus made the same statement in His teaching.

“I am the gate. All who come in through me will be saved. Through me they will come and go and find pasture. 10 A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest. 11 I am the good shepherd, and the good shepherd gives up his life for his sheep.” John 10:9-11 CEV

A full life compared to one where we will be robbed, killed and destroyed. Yes, I choose life!

Choose wisely – choose life!

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Memory Lane

A few weeks ago while my mother was here visiting we found ourselves talking about the “old times”. This is something we do quite often when we are together.

We talked about her childhood, my childhood and that of my children. I find it hard to imagine what it must be like to have ninety-six years of lifetime to remember. She does so well; sometimes its hard for her to remember yesterday or last week but her memories of times past are sharp.

Several years ago Dave and I made a trip to Arizona from Montana through Colorado and New Mexico. As a girl, I lived in northern New Mexico for about a year. My dad was doing road construction and this was the next leg of the journey.

Anyway…I shared my memories with Dave on that trip and then Mom and I reminisced about those same things when she was here. It was a special time for me; my first snow, picking pinyons on the mountain side, the neighbors peach orchard, good friends who lived close to the creek, Christmas Eve mass at the Catholic mission and visiting the hogans on the Indian Reservation every week and to bring kids into town to the Good News club.

It was a magical time.

When our children were very little, Kim wasn’t quite two and Koy was only weeks old, we moved from Phoenix to Las Cruces, New Mexico. That was a special time for Dave and I.

It was there that God revealed Himself to us as the Great Healer when He healed our son. It was there, too, that we first learned about the victorious Christian life that God wants us to live. We began hearing teaching from God’s word on the authority of the believer and that we weren’t subject to a life of “just struggle through and when we get to heaven it will be worth it all”. Oh yes, it will be worth it but God has called us to be more than conquerors and overcomers in Christ Jesus and our eyes were open to that then. That was forty-two years ago.

It’s good to take a walk down memory lane. In fact, God told the Israelites that they should recall the deliverance from Egypt to their children so they wouldn’t fall into the trap of serving false gods. The Passover was and is a time of remembrance of God’s deliverance.

It’s important to remember!

Sometimes we get so caught up in the hear and now that we forget about God’s faithfulness in the past. Some of today’s problems seem monumental, insurmountable but in remembering the past, we see God’s faithfulness and how He moved to deliver us from the giants of days gone by.

Take time today to recall the miracles God has done in your life – tell someone your testimony. Remember when you gained new insight in God’s word and it brought you out of bondage to fear, to religious tradition, to addictive behaviours, etc. Let your journey be an encouragement to your children and to those you love and maybe even to a stranger.

“Remember these commands I give you. Keep them in your hearts. Write them down and tie them on your hands and wear them on your foreheads as a way to remember my laws. 19 Teach these laws to your children. Talk about these things when you sit in your houses, when you walk along the road, when you lie down, and when you get up. 20 Write these commands on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates. 21 Then both you and your children will live a long time in the land that the LORD promised to give to your ancestors. You will live there as long as the skies are above the earth.” Deuteronomy 11:18-21

Let your walk down Memory Lane encourage you – God was faithful then and He is still the same today.

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Sweet Peace

Believe it or not there are times when I get up in the morning that I really just want to go back to bed and get a little more rest. It’s true. This morning was one of those. I found myself sitting in my rocker, resting my head on hands, closing my eyes and seeking just a few more moments of peaceful sleep.

I found myself apologizing to the Lord. I had cut my prayer time short however, my heart was still in a place of talking to the Father but it was sleepy talk. I just kept repeating over and over, “Father I love you and I am so glad to be in Your presence”.

“The God Who lives forever is your safe place. His arms are always under you.” Deuteronomy 33:27 NLT

I felt cradled in His arms and there was such peace in those moments. And as I was taking rest in those moments I suddenly felt energized, ready for the day. Joy was filling my heart and giving me strength to replace the weariness.

“You have shown me the path to life, and you make me glad by being near to me. Sitting at your right side, I will always be joyful.” Psalm 16:11 CEV

I remember when our son was small, I had left him in the kitchen to finish his lunch while I went to the other room to do something. When I came back his head was on the table and he was sound asleep. That’s how I felt this morning.

“‘For I have given rest to the weary and joy to the sorrowing.’ 26 At this, I woke up and looked around. My sleep had been very sweet.” Jeremiah 31:25-26 NLT

Maybe your Monday is starting a little slower than usual. Maybe you are like me, wishing for a few more moments to rest. Stop now, for just a moment, and let God give you strength and joy for your day.

“Don’t you know?  Haven’t you heard? The Lord is the eternal God,  Creator of the earth. He never gets weary or tired; his wisdom cannot be measured. 29 The Lord gives strength to those who are weary. 30 Even young people get tired,  then stumble and fall.
31 But those who trust the Lord will find new strength. They will be strong like eagles  soaring upward on wings; they will walk and run without getting tired.” Isaiah 40:28-31 CEV

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Good Ole Days

I was reminded this morning of a country song that the Judd’s made popular in the 1980’s. To some of you reading this the 80’s may seem like the “olden days”.

Grandpa (Tell Me ‘Bout the Good Old Days)

“Grandpa, tell me ’bout the good old days
Sometimes it feels like
This world’s gone crazy
Grandpa, take me back to yesterday
When the line between right and wrong
Didn’t seem so hazy

Did lovers really fall in love to stay
And stand beside each other, come what may?
Was a promise really something people kept
Not just something they would say?
Did families really bow their heads to pray?
Did daddies really never go away?
Oh, Grandpa, tell me ’bout the good old days…”

In today’s world, we have better living conditions, better advancements in health care, better education than the generations before us. But we also have more stress, more acts of violence, more fear and less family stability.

In the “olden days” people prayed for rain and the success of the crops, families worked and played together, communities gathered together to help a neighbor in need and children were educated by teachers who prayed and used the Bible as the core curriculum in reading.

Truth was the foundation for society, government and the family.

“Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me. ” John 14:6 ERV

The word “the” is a defining force. Truth isn’t subjective, it’s an absolute. You are either telling the truth or it’s a lie. If you leave facts out to skew the story or sway the outcome, it isn’t truth. Remember the days when people in court had to place their hands on the Bible and swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth? People swore or affirmed their statement by the Bible because it was and is the only standard of truth that has never changed since it was written.

“The way”. Our life’s a journey and we can chose the path but when we follow paths of our own making we become distracted, confused and even lost.

“Today I am giving you a choice of two ways. And I ask heaven and earth to be witnesses of your choice. You can choose life or death. The first choice will bring a blessing. The other choice will bring a curse. So choose life! Then you and your children will live. 20 You must love the Lord your God and obey him. Never leave him, because he is your life. And he will give you a long life in the land that he, the Lord, promised to give to your ancestors—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Deuteronomy 30:19-20 ERV

I love that verse. When we chose “the way” and “the truth” we gain life. And when we don’t, we face an enemy who seeks to destroy us.

“Everyone who came before me was a thief or a robber, and the sheep did not listen to any of them. 9 I am the gate. All who come in through me will be saved. Through me they will come and go and find pasture. 10 A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest.” John 10:8-10 CEV

When Kaci was very little she woke up one night crying. I got up and took her to the living room to rock her back to sleep. She didn’t want to be there – she strained and leaned in my arms, wanting me to take her to another room. I did and her actions were the same. Wanting to go from the living room to the family room to the kitchen and then the dining room and finally back to the living room.

No matter which room we were in, she wasn’t content. When we arrived back in the living room (only about 10 minutes had past), she snuggled into my chest and fell asleep. I remember saying to her, “This is where we started. I knew this was the best place for you. Why couldn’t you trust me and see that?” And then I heard God speak in my heart and ask me the same question.

Oh!

Why don’t you trust Me to know what’s best for you and to have you in the right place?

WOW!

I wish I could say that I never had to learn that lesson again but that wouldn’t be the truth. However, the longer I walk with Him the easier it is for me to see that I am on a path of my own making and not where He wants me. I quickly come back to the place of comfort and peace.

I encourage you to join me, make your foundation “The Way”, committed to “The Truth” and finding “The Life” that is abundant and everlasting! Return to the Good Ole Days.

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