GOOD OR GOD?

Video devo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_fB-I-4a70&feature=c4-overview&list=UUBpDAju7oW9cppxV0BUIAXQ

SO YOU WANNA GO BACK TO EGYPT

“All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, ‘If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert! Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?’”
Numbers 14:2-3

Do you ever finding yourself remembering the good ole’ days? I’m not necessarily talking about the days when a soda pop cost only five cents, but the days when you were a free bird. I remember them. I remember my single days in college, when I would spend my summers overseas on missions, or stay out late with the guys, or even go to Wal-mart by myself. But then something happened. I got married. Suddenly my alone time was couple time, which in time turned to family time. Gone were the days of being the free bird, now I was a papa bird. If you know my story, though, you know that after nine years of marriage I became a single papa bird. Over time I missed what I had had, that sense of a complete family with my kids and a wife. So I prayed, and prayed, and prayed, and invited you to pray, and prayed some more. Then something else happened. I got married again.
I have been married now for a little over four months, and I have to admit, sometimes I miss those free bird and single papa bird days. Sometimes I miss jumping on a plane and taking a trip, or splurging some money on myself, or even being able to waltz around Wal-mart alone. I think back and recall my freedom…but I never get too far. Why? Well it is because with all the good ole’ times also came a great deal of pain. When I was a free bird I suffered from being lonely. I had no wife or children to keep me occupied. And the same feeling of loneliness followed me when I was a single papa bird. I wanted the adult companionship that my children could not offer.
So which is better? Does the thought of missing the alone times sound better than the thought of being lonely? Or better yet, why is it that when we receive the blessing of God we soon long for the days before the blessing came? What do I mean? To help explain this thought, let’s look at the times of Moses. With the people of Israel enslaved to the Egyptians, they called out for a deliverer. When the time was right and the prophecy given to Abraham fulfilled, God sent Moses. Out of their slavery they came, a nation so numerous, yet thanking God that He had heard their prayers and made a way. But it didn’t take long before their joy turned back to sorrow. Exodus 14:11-12 records the people of Israel saying to Moses, “Didn’t we tell you to leave us alone and let us serve the Egyptians?” And this was not the only recording of their desire for the good ‘ole days of slavery. The Israelites are also recorded in Numbers 14:2-3 as saying, “’If only we had died in Egypt!’”, and in Numbers 16:12-13, “’Isn’t it enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the desert?’” And what is so sad about this last passage is that they considered Egypt to be the land flowing with milk and honey.
As I contemplate my life now, I can see where I too tend to have this same mentality. I fail to see just how God saved me from my ‘slavery’, be it my loneliness or what have you, just like I prayed He would. And now, when even the smallest of trials comes along, I desire to go back to the good ‘ole days, back to my slavery, with the thought that slavery is better than freedom. I have it wrong, thinking Egypt was the land of milk and honey when I know for a fact it is not. But I venture to say I am not the only one who does this. If you were to be honest with yourself, would you agree that you too have at times desired to go back to Egypt? Sure we survived in Egypt, but did we really live? God’s desire is for us to live in the Promise Land. So let us not find hardship and give up half way, travel back to our slavery and tarry. Let us live!

THE WORD OF GOD

“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
Hebrews 4:12

Awhile back I wrote a devotional about the sword Excalibur. As a lover of history, the age of knights and fair maidens is one of my favorite times to study. So it is then that I know well the tale of Excalibur. English history tells the story of a young knight who would become the British leader of the late fifth and early sixth century. That leader would be known in history as King Arthur. Although much of the life of the brave knight who became king is composed of folklore, due in part to the writings of Geoffrey of Monmouth, there is little doubt that he did in fact exist. Perhaps the greatest debate then is the method in which he obtained this sword known as Excalibur.
There are two stories that continue to circulate, but the commonality to each is the sword’s magical powers. The first tale explains that Excalibur was the Sword in the Stone. In this account, the pulling of the sword from the stone was a feat that only a “true king” could perform. With his future rule as king granted because of his ability to lift the sword from its stone, he also won the rights to the sword itself. However, there is a second tale. It is in this folklore that the Lady of the Lake extended her hand from the waters to give Arthur his destiny, the enchanted sword named Excalibur. In both tales, the power of the sword is defined, for it is able to cut through iron as though it were wood and bring healing to its owner if he be injured in the fight.
While we may never know the truth of the sword that tall tales confuse for us, we do possess our own enchanted sword. The powers that cover our sword are not fabled uprisings or extensions from the waters, though, but rather a power that comes only from God Himself. We have the Word of God. This lamp unto our feet (Ps 119:105) is sharper than any double-edged sword. It is said that it can penetrate so precise, even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. And it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. It is this sword that we must take up daily as part of our armor (Eph 6:17). For how able to defeat the opponent is the knight who has no sword?
And while the sword may show itself needed for battle, it also shows itself needed as the medicine and healing agent for the wounded. It is to be hidden in our hearts so that we may not sin against God (Ps 119:11). It is to be obeyed so that the enemy does not have grounds to produce worse actions in our life (Jn 5:14). And it is God-breathed and useful for our teaching, rebuke, correction, and training (II Tim 3:16). This sword, the Holy Bible, inspired by men who followed hard after God, holds the key to eternal life and the power over eternal death.
You have been given this sword, this Excalibur, from God Himself. What are you doing with it? Is it sitting on the shelf collecting dust? Is it being used to ward off the enemy? It is the mysterious lamp unto your path, or the weapon that you’ve tossed to the side because you feel it doesn’t work right? Are you nurtured by this sword, or too afraid to consume it because it will change your life? God is no Lady of the Lake, but He has given you the power you need for every obstacle you will meet. He is handing you His sword now. Take it, and rise up as the warrior He is calling you to.

PLAYING WITH FIRE

“I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”
Psalm 16:8

When I was in my pre-teen years, I suffered briefly of being a pyromaniac. I know, you may think it hard to believe, but it is true. It started when my best friend and I were messing around with lighter fluid. We would squirt little patterns on the ground and then stand back, dropping a lit match. The fluid would burn up and leave us wanting to do it again. The patterns got more elaborate until one day I got the ‘bright’ idea to make a design from the ground up to his club house. I loaded the wood floor with fluid, being sure it was good and soaked, and trailed my path down the stairs, through the brush, and to our starting point. Then, standing a little distance off, I lit the match and watched as the liquid burned up and black smoke appeared. My ‘bright’ idea wasn’t that smart, though, and soon we were panicked, trying to grab the hose quickly to put out the fire that was eating away at the floor boards of the club house now. Between a mixture of water and sand, we got the fire out. I can still remember to this day the fear I felt, with legs shaking, as I think back to the potential blaze we just about had.
These days my pyromaniac-ism is under control. Sure, since then I have poured gasoline on a few hot wheels and watched them melt. Yes, I have made a bonfire in my BBQ. And true, I have tried to repeat the fiery furnace from Daniel 3 in my fireplace, but other than that it is under control. The fires I want to set these days, however, are of a different sort. I want to set people on fire with a passion for God.
I think of the words penned by David in Psalm 42:1. Just as the deer desired a drink, so David’s soul thirsted for God. Or how about Psalm 57:7 where David wrote that his heart was fixed on God. To me this speaks of passion. In Psalm 40:8 David even states he delights to do God’s will and His law is within his heart. But the one that sticks out to me most is Psalm 16:8, where David boldly proclaims, “I have set the LORD always before me.” The Message translation reads, “Day and night I’ll stick with God; I’ve got a good thing going and I’m not letting go.” Yet what does this mean? The word ‘set’ is the Hebrew word SHAVAH, meaning to agree with, become like, or resemble. David was so passionate about his relationship with God that he worked to resemble God.
So then, the next question I pose is how? How do we resemble God? Ephesians 5:1-2 tells us to be imitators of God and live a life of love. I Corinthians 11:1 tells us to follow Paul’s example as he follows the example of Christ. So perhaps the answer to how is in doing the things we know Christ did, which even Christ says were the things God did (Jn 5:19). Christ burned with passion to see people reverse their evil ways and come in surrender to Him. Christ portrayed a life of passion in healing people from all wounds, physical, emotional, spiritual, everywhere He went. And Christ etched out a life of passion in that while we were sinners He died for us.
I may have been a fire starter of sorts back in the day, but these days I want to set a new blaze. I want to reach out to people and extend the blaze I have for God to them, and walk in the example that Christ left for me. I am not the way to heaven, but I just may be a vessel God can use to start a flame in someone else. That said, I want to burn with a passion so blazing for God that it leaps off me and sparks a wildfire for God in someone else. I want to play with fire.

***check out this song by Britt Nicole
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHIPe0JOr4w

SIMCHAT TORAH!

“All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
II Timothy 3:16-17

Here is a question for you? Does the Word of God bring you joy and happiness? Does the Word of God make you so happy that you cannot wait to dive in and read it? I ask because tonight we celebrate Simchat Torah, translated as ‘Rejoicing of the Torah’. In the Jewish faith, Simchat Torah celebrates and marks the conclusion of the annual cycle of reading the Torah, as well as celebrates and marks the beginning of a new cycle of reading the Torah. This cycle ending tonight began October 7, 2012, or on the Hebrew calendar, the 22nd of Tishrei.
While it may be probable that you have not been following the readings of the Torah in the past, and it is not my intention to shame you for that, the question I ask still remains. Does the Word of God bring you joy? To many it seems like it may be just a collection of tall tales, derived and penned from a number of different people who just so happened to have their tale found and published. To others, the Word of God is a set of rules, especially within the Torah, and they give no thought to it since who really wants to live under so many rules anyway. Others look at the Word of God as just another book, nothing special and nothing to live by.
And yet, to those like myself, it is life. These words are the words of God, spoken by His Spirit to prophets, apostles, kings, priests, shepherds, slaves, and the Son of God Himself. These are His words, used to urge me in living a life aimed at righteousness through teaching, rebuking, correcting and training. The Word of God is my instruction manual and its aim is to equip me for every good work. So then, within the pages of the Bible I find life. I find answers to questions, I find healing for my wounds, and I find a path in my darkness for His Word is my lamp (Ps 119:105). Every chapter, every sentence, every word, and every piece of punctuation is for my pleasure. His Word sustains me, feeds me, refreshes me, and protects me. How can I not find joy in His Word?
And so, tonight as Simchat Torah is celebrated, the Torah scrolls will be taken out of the ark and read by the people. They will first read the final chapters of Deuteronomy and then begin with the opening chapters of Genesis. In each occasion, when the ark is opened, worship will arise. The people will get up from their seats and dance and sing with the Torah in their possession, sometimes for hours at a time, because of the joy that comes with God’s Word. I ask again, does the Word of God bring you joy? When was the last time you celebrated in joy the Word of God, dancing and singing joyously, parading His life-breathing words? Maybe recently; maybe never. Maybe this is a good time to start. Come and let us rejoice in the Torah!

***If you would like to watch a live view of the Wailing Wall and the celebrations that will take place over the next 24 hours, please view the following links:

close up:
http://www.virtualjerusalem.com/livekotel/newkotelcam/virtualjerusalem/index.php?affid=18

far away:
http://english.thekotel.org/cameras.asp

YOM KIPPUR

“It is to be a permanent regulation for you that on the tenth day of the seventh month you are to deny yourselves and not do any kind of work, both the citizen and the foreigner living with you.”
Leviticus 16:29

As we are now just days away from Yom Kippur, I wanted to take some time to review with you just what this holiday is all about. Before I go on, however, I want to point out something from our main text, Leviticus 16:29. With many of the Jewish holidays, people assume that if they are not Jewish, they do not have to celebrate. This is not correct. In becoming adopted into God’s family, (Rom 8:14-17), you also became subject to His feast, celebrations, and appointed times. Leviticus 16:29 states specifically that Yom Kippur is not just for the citizen (the Jew), but also for the foreigner (the Gentile). With this clarified, let us learn about Yom Kippur.
It is on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, that we want to find an AT-ONE-MENT with God. The Day of Atonement is God’s biblical holy day established on Israel’s sacred calendar as a covenant of repentance and promise. It is on this day that the fullness of his blessings and presence come into our lives. It is on this day in history that once a year, the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies and make atonement for the nation. It is a perfect illustration of regeneration for those who follow God's atonement.
To be so blunt, Yom Kippur is the equivalent of the church goers who attend church on Christmas and Easter. If a Jewish person goes to synagogue on no other day, he will make an effort to not miss this holy day. The Jewish people on this day will refrain from work, fast, and attend synagogue services. As during the Days of Awe when God inscribes our names in His books, on Yom Kippur the judgment is sealed. This day is, essentially, our last appeal, our last chance to change the judgment and demonstrate our repentance and make amends. After the sealing, the destiny of the person is set for the next year.
Let us consider the fast related to Yom Kippur as we read of in Leviticus 16:29. The focus of this fast is the depriving of ourselves so that we may focus fully on God’s Word. This holy day is considered a complete Shabbat, meaning that no work can be performed. This also includes the refraining of eating and drinking for the 25 hour period, starting before sunset the evening before (this year being Sept 13, 2013) until after nightfall on Yom Kippur (Sept 14, 2013). Let me add to save us from any confusion that the Jewish days begin at sunset as opposed to sunrise. While additional restrictions are named in the Talmud, the Bible speaks nothing against bathing, wearing perfumes, leather shoes, or being intimate with your spouse. These truly named restrictions within the Bible can be lifted where a threat of life is concerned, and the fast is not mandatory for children under age twelve and women who are pregnant.
The term Yom Kippur is seen in the Bible as plural, written as Yom Ha-Kippurim, indicating the process of cleansing from transgressions, iniquities, and sins. The term also alludes to the two great atonements given by God. These include the nations turning to Jesus for cleansing and forgiveness, as well as the purification of ethnic Israel during the great Day of the LORD in the end times.
Kippurim translates into “a day like Purim”. If you recall the spring festival of Purim, you may also recall it was the celebration of the salvation of the Jewish race under Esther. Promoted as Queen, God placed Esther in a key position for a specific time. Her act of bravery in going before the King uncalled and requesting he come to a dinner she was having, in which she begged for the lives of the Jews, brought about not only the death of Haman, but also the salvation of the Jews. It is this same truth that we find relating to us at this holiday as Yom Kippur celebrates our deliverance and salvation for which Jesus sacrificed Himself on the cross, delivering us from the hands on our enemy.
While being delivered is enough in and of itself, we must make a choice at this time. Will we come back? Will we repent for our sins, seek forgiveness of God and others, and offer forgiveness to those who have offended us, or will we deny this chance. I ask because as I stated above, this is our last appeal, our last chance to change the judgment and demonstrate our repentance and make amends before the sealing of the books. Where will your name land? The books that will be sealed include the names of those who will live verses pass away, of those who will have a blessed life, and of those who will live a cursed life during the next year. Forgiveness plays a huge part in this decision. So where will your name be found?
While the details of the fast are important for Yom Kippur, there is a deeper detail found earlier in this same chapter of Leviticus. Leviticus 16:5-10 reads,
5 "He is to take from the community of the people of Israel two male goats for a sin offering
and one ram for a burnt offering. 6 Aaron is to present the bull for the sin offering which is
for himself and make atonement for himself and his household. 7 He is to take the two goats
and place them before ADONAI at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 8 Then Aaron is to
cast lots for the two goats, one lot for ADONAI and the other for 'Az'azel. 9 Aaron is to
present the goat whose lot fell to ADONAI and offer it as a sin offering. 10 But the goat
whose lot fell to 'Az'azel is to be presented alive to ADONAI to be used for making
atonement over it by sending it away into the desert for 'Az'azel.”
The ceremony begins with two goats. One goat was named the Chatat and would be slain as a blood sacrifice, a symbol of the covering of sins for the people. The second goat was named the Az’azel, or Scapegoat, and would be brought before the priest. The priest would lay his hands on the goat's head as the sins of the people were confessed. Whereas the first was slain, the Scapegoat was released into the wilderness as a representation of the sins being removed from the people. But one important detail concerning this needs still to be made known. Watchmen were planted on the borders of the land to make sure that the goat did not return. As this goat was their sin, the sin was not wanted back in the land. It is for this fact that I question of us – do we have watchmen set out in our land to make sure the sin does not re-enter?
When Jesus our Messiah died on the cross, He did so for our sin. Jesus, who knew no sin, became our sacrifice and Scapegoat. As his body was beat and cut, He became our Chatat with His blood being spilled out for us. Yet He also became our Az’azel in that He took our sin away from us. It is only because of His sacrifice and forgiveness of our sins that we have the ability to stand in His presence. The Greek word KAPPARAH means propitiation. In Greek mythology this word was used in showing appeasement to the gods. But this word also means atonement. On the cross, Jesus was displayed as our kapparah, our sacrifice, the fulfillment of all that is celebrated at Yom Kippur. The atonement has been made and forgiveness is offered.
It is in Leviticus 17:11 we read that the blood of the sacrifice paved the way for our atonement. The verse reads,
“For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement
for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.”
Without this price paid or atonement made, our sin would continue to separate us from God. It is because of His love for us that we have been redeemed and given access. It is because of His payment that we have been sought after for unity with Him. It is because of His atonement – His at-one-ment, that we are able to have relationship with Him.
The message within all the Bible is simple – God is holy and we also must live our lives to reflect His holiness. As such we read of the things that are clean, blessed, and right in contrast to those that are dirty, cursed, and sinful. We are to be holy as He is holy. But we are human and prone to sin. God knew this would be a fact for we have freewill. Yet He did not create us and leave us to live without a chance. Rather He made a way for us to be redeemed from the curse. Jesus Christ, our Messiah, is our high priest and has offered a true atonement for our sin. He has paved the way for our at-one-ment, so let us then come before Him, confessing our sin and turning from our wrong way to embrace the oneness with Him.
Lastly, let us look at Yom Kippur in relation to Jonah 3:10, which reads, “When Adonai saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, He had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction He had threatened."
It is in the book of Jonah that we see the truth of confession. If we confess and turn from our sin, God is faithful and just to forgive us as He did the people of Ninevah. Because of the great wickedness of Ninevah, God had determined an exact time in which He would destroy the city. However, before He did so He gave warning. God asked Jonah to go and proclaim that His destruction was coming. After Jonah ran from Him, spent a few nights inside a fish and was vomited out, and then finally obeyed, the proclamation was made. When the people heard this warning, however, they began to believe the words. In fact, the city people declared a fast. Yet once the king caught a hold of this warning, he too declared a fast. The king went even so far as to declare a fast not only of the people, but also of the animals (Jon 3:7). He reasoned, "Who knows? Adonai may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish." Talk about a serious change of direction for Nineveh.
As God watched the change in the hearts of the city, He relented. Jonah 3:10 goes on to say that, "When Adonai saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, He had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction He had threatened." I don't know about you, but I read that and find myself stirred with hope. He knows the many stupid things I have done, and the sins I have committed both on accident and on purpose. Yet in reading this account I am encouraged to consider that maybe God is saying the same thing to me. Perhaps He is warning me to get right so as to avoid destruction. It would only seem to make sense. And truth be told, that is exactly right. He will forgive us all.
From the beginning in Genesis, God has only wanted for us to obey His decrees, follow His ways, and serve Him only. Is that any different than what He desired from Nineveh? Is it any different from what He desires from us now? So then maybe instead of being hard headed and walking around with cotton balls in my ears, I should listen and obey. Maybe it is time for a fast, a change, and a requesting of Adonai to forgive me as I recommit the path I am on in this new year. There is hope for us all that He will relent, but we first must admit our errors and change our ways as Nineveh did.

HANNAH AND ROSH HASHANAH!

"You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea."
Micah 7:19

Here we are again, finding ourselves about to announce "Happy New Year". According to the Jewish calendar, the New Year has now arrived. Starting at dusk, or around 6:00pm, Jewish believers will celebrate their New Year. Rosh Hashanah kicks off what is known as the high holy season, ushering in the holidays of Yom Kippur and Sukkoth. In short, Rosh Hashanah follows the 30 days of the month of Elul as a two day celebration.
One of the greatest illustrations of the blessing of Rosh Hashanah comes from I Samuel 1. We read in I Samuel 1:11 a portion of the prayer prayed by Hannah after she excused herself from the table. “Then she took a vow; she said, ‘ADONAI-Tzva'ot, if you will notice how humiliated your servant is, if you will remember me and not forget your servant but will give your servant a male child, then I will give him to ADONAI for as long as he lives; and no razor will ever come on his head.’” When Eli the cohen (priest) saw Hannah with lips moving, he assumed her to be drunk and offered words of wisdom to her concerning her drinking habits. But once he realized that she had been praying, in faith he replied that Adonai had indeed heard her prayer (I Sam 1:17). Yet why was Hannah's request for a son granted? The answer is because she already had the idea of what she would do when she had him. She purposed that if she had a son, she would give him over to Adonai's service. May I then suggest that Adonai wants to bless us, but He wants to know why? He wants to know the purpose for why He should bless us.
Think of it as such. A man who wants to build a house for Adonai may not have all the tools needed to do so. For instance, he is lacking a hammer. Would it not be wise for the man to pray something along the lines of, “Adonai, I want to build You this home, but I need a hammer.” As He provided a son for Hannah with purpose known, so then He would also provide a hammer for this person who knows the purpose but lacks the means.
Can I suggest that in this season, as we celebrate Rosh Hashanah, that we do celebrate the sweetness of the holiday, we do empty our pockets and allow our confession to be heard and forgiven, and we do increase our giving. But may I also suggest that like Hannah, we come before Adonai not with a list of wants, but with purpose known. Praying with the reason instead of just praying because we want something seems like it will make the difference, and keep us focused.
There is so much more to write concerning this high holy day, but the theme and purpose have not changed and despite beliefs, is not only for the Jewish people. It is a message for us all. As we stand on the brink of a spiritual new year, let us also prepare. This is a season of new beginnings, and I cannot wait to go deeper with Adonai and see just what He does for me this year.