Quick to Forget~

June 25, 2020 – Debbie Graham
Judges 8-9

Focus Verses
Judges 8:33-35 “So it was, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel again played the harlot with the Baals, and made Baal-Berith their god. Thus the children of Israel did not remember the Lord their God, who had delivered them from the hands of all their enemies on every side; nor did they show kindness to the house of Jerubbaal (Gideon) in accordance with the good he had done for Israel.”

With an army of 32,000, the Israelites set out to conquer the Midianites.  The Lord said there were too many men and that man would get the credit for the victory instead of God.  Anyone scared could go back.  22,000 went back leaving 10,000 men.  Another 9,700 were sent back after being tested by the Lord down by the water (7:2-8).  The Lord delivered the Midianites into their hands with an army of only 300 valiant men! 

These Israelites have seen and heard about the hand of the Lord throughout their entire lives: The parting of the Red Sea, conquering princes and kings, crossing the Jordan, taking over many regions, and entering the promised land, just to name a few. 

They are dumb sheep!  As soon as Gideon who we read about just a few chapters ago, who had been visited by an angel that told him, “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor” (6:12) is dead, the Israelites are quick to worship other gods rather than the One True God.  They “did not remember the Lord their God who had delivered them from the hands of all their enemies” (8:35).  God sent Gideon to the Israelites because they cried out to the Lord who had delivered them into the hand of Midian for seven years, because they had done evil in His sight.  These people never learn!  Once again, they return to their evil ways. 

Let us remember to always be faithful to our God who has delivered us from our evil ways and has faithfully been by our side through the difficult seasons in our lives.  If ever our earthly spiritual leader (pastor, parent, mentor, etc.) is gone, may we continue to follow Him and depend on the unfailing promises of our great Shepherd (Hebrews 12:20).  Regardless of what others choose to do, let us follow He who will never leave us and not be quick to forget!

Prayer
Father God, thank You for leading me and being my great Shepherd.  Please help me to not be quick to forget.  Please lead me and guide me in all of Your ways all of the days of my life.  May my life testify to Your goodness and deliverance.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

What Do These Stones Mean?

June 15, 2020 – Debbie Graham
Joshua 1-4

What Do These Stones Mean?

Focus Verses
Joshua 4:5-6 “and Joshua said to them: “Cross over before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and each one of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you’””

In chapter 4 we read that after 40 years of wandering, the moment the Israelites had all been waiting for finally happened.  They crossed the Jordan into to the promised land.

Twelve men that had been chosen, one from each tribe, were to take stones from the middle of the Jordan where the priests had been standing and carry them over to the place where they camped that night.  Joshua set up the stones at the spot where the priests who carried the ark had stood in the midst of the Jordan.  

After all the Israelites had crossed the Jordan, and they were at the camp in Gilgal, Joshua set those 12 stones.  “Then he spoke to the children of Israel, saying: “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What are these stones?’ then you shall let your children know, saying, ‘Israel crossed over this Jordan on dry land’; for the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed over, that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever” (Joshua 4:21-24).

What are these stones?  I have a green marble heart and an envelope made from beautiful paper that was left on my door handle in a plain white grocery bag after a hurricane blew through Florida in the early 90’s.  My four sons and I were home alone while my husband was out of the country on a business trip.  We had a need that I had only spoken to our Lord.  That afternoon I found the bag hanging on the door handle.  Inside was the envelope, with cash that would be used to purchase the groceries needed to feed my family (again, a need that I had only talked to God about), and the green marble heart.

It was left anonymously.  I would venture to say that it was left for the same reason that Joshua gave to the Israelites… that we would know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty, that we may fear the Lord our God forever, and that we would share that with others.  

I have the green heart sitting next to me now as I write this.  I remember the blessing as if it were yesterday.  It has served as a reminder to me for years of the Lord’s goodness, faithfulness, promises, and provisions.  The stone heart has prompted many conversations and I have shared of His care through it.  In my 35 years of walking with Him, there are several “stones” in my possession that speak of the Lord’s goodness and serve as a testimony to Him that He is able to use for His glory.  

Do you have any “stones”?  How do you answer those who ask about those stones?  Do you share how the Lord has guided, provided for, and been faithful to you specifically?  Are you using those “stones” to testify to all that the Lord has done?

Prayer
Father God, thank You for tangible and visible reminders.  Thank You that I can use them to share Your goodness, faithfulness, promises, and provisions with those in my life.  Help me to always remember, and give You the glory.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Holy Place~

May 13, 2020- Debbie Graham

Holy Place

Focus Verses

Leviticus 16 begins: “Now the LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered profane fire before the LORD, and died; and the LORD said to Moses: ‘Tell Aaron your brother not to come at just any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, lest he die; for I will appear in the cloud above the mercy seat’” (vs 1-2).

The passage goes on to describe in great detail how Aaron was to approach the Holy Place, what to bring, what to wear, how to wear it, etc.  He would first make atonement for himself and for his house, then make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions, concerning all their sins.  We read in verse 30, “For on that day the priest shall make atonement for you, to cleanse you, that you may be clean from all your sins before the Lord.”  

We read about the curtain in the Holy Place in Exodus 33:31-33, “Make a curtain of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen, with cherubim woven into it by a skilled worker. Hang it with gold hooks on four posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold and standing on four silver bases. Hang the curtain from the clasps and place the ark of the covenant law behind the curtain. The curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.”  The Ark of the Covenant was behind this curtain and was a place where God and man (the High Priest) could meet.  

I am certain that all of us are thankful that the way Aaron was told to approach the Holy Place is not the way we approach God today.  We still come before Him with reverence, and respect His holiness, but can do this any and all of the time.  It says in Matthew 27 that upon Jesus’ last breath “the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (vs. 51a).  Friends, that means the curtain is no longer separating us from access to the Most Holy Place!  We can approach our most Holy God directly.  Hebrews 4:16 says: “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”  And 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  No priest is necessary to make atonement for us.  Jesus Christ, pure and unblemished… spotless, took all of our uncleanness upon Himself and became our atonement… once for all!  

The Lord continues to speak to Moses in chapter 18 about His statutes and tells him to speak to the people of Israel that He is the Lord, and they shall not do as they did in the land of Egypt or Canaan.  They are not to walk in their statutes, but to follow His rules.  This chapter is specifically speaking to sexual relationships within family, and with same sex.  Overall, it speaks about following the Lord’s rules, and what He has set out as right and pure.  

It can be so easy to want to go back and do what we once did or follow the path of those who seem to be successful in their ways.  The Lord is clear.  We should not make ourselves unclean by practicing things outside of His statues.  The law is not unimportant, as Paul tells us in Romans 7, without the law we would not know sin.  Let us recognize the law, pay attention to our sin, and approach His throne with boldness and confidence.

Prayer

Father God, thank You for the atonement for my sins through the shed blood of Your perfect lamb, Jesus.  Thank You that You welcome me coming to You anytime.  Help me to always keep Your statutes and not look to something that looks appealing or easier.  Thank You that when I stray, I can come boldly to Your throne of grace and obtain Your mercy in my time of need.  Help me to never forget the sacrifice You made for me.  In Jesus Name, Amen

Offerings and Dwellings~

May 2, 2020 - Debbie Graham

Offerings and Dwellings

Focus Verses

Exodus 25:2 “Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering. From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take My offering.”

Exodus 26:30 “And you shall raise up the tabernacle according to its pattern which you were shown on the mountain.”

After Moses had spent 40 days and 40 nights on Mount Sinai with the Lord, we read in chapter 25 that God speaks again to him and tells him to speak to the children of Israel.  He was to tell them to bring the Lord an offering.  God told him to take the offering to the Lord from whoever gave willingly from his heart.  The Lord told Moses to receive specific offerings from the children of Israel to build His temple.  God had laid out the pattern for the building of the temple where the Lord would dwell. 

We are to give willingly from our hearts to the Lord and worship Him with our gifts.  Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”  It is such an honor to get to sow bountifully to the Lord both financially and in serving with what He has bountifully given. 

We read three times in Exodus 25–27 that Moses was told by the Lord to make the items for the temple according to the pattern shown to him on the mountain.  God wanted to dwell with His people and gave specific instructions in the building of the sanctuary so He could dwell with them there.  God was specific with every detail of the building of His temple.  He requested the best materials to be used for His place of worship.  Only the best for Him, and only His best for us. 

Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit.  “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19).  Just as God instructed Moses how to build the temple, He has also instructed us on how to build and maintain our temple where He dwells.  We have been shown how the Lord wants us to live to honor Him.  We read in Micah 6:8, “He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?” 

We read in Exodus 27: 20 that the Lord told Moses, “And you shall command the children of Israel that they bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to cause the lamp to burn continually.”  As we live our lives as a temple of the Holy Spirit, may we always use pure oil in our lamps that we may burn continually and so that others might see Him in us. 

How am I giving?  How am I caring for His temple?  What am I bringing to Him to honor Him?  Am I doing justly?  Am I loving mercy?  Am I walking humbly? 

Prayer

Father God, thank You for showing me what You require of me.  Help me to remember that You want to dwell with me, and that I am a temple in which You choose to dwell.  Help me to prepare and preserve my temple for You with only what is pure.  May I always give to You willingly from my heart.  In Jesus Name, Amen.  

Reaching Forward~

April 20, 2020 - Debbie Graham
Reaching Forward
Focus Verse
Genesis 41: 51 “Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: ‘For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father’s house.’ And the name of the second he called Ephraim: ‘For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.’”

As we have read in Genesis 37 – 40, we see that Joseph was sold into slavery, bought by an officer of Pharaoh, unjustly thrown into prison, interpreted dreams of a couple of prisoners, had asked the chief butler to remember him, and forgotten about for two full years.  In Genesis 41, Pharaoh had dreams and called for all the magicians and wise men to come and interpret them.  None were successful.  It was at this time that the chief butler remembered Joseph.  He told Pharaoh that while in prison, Joseph who was also in prison, had interpreted his, and the chief baker’ dreams. Things happened just as Joseph had interpreted.  Pharaoh sent for Joseph.

I don’t know about you, but if my life looked like that, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have handled it as well as Joseph did.  After 13 years of being a slave and prisoner, he was going to be free.  13 years of remembering what his brothers did to him. 13 years of missing his father.  13 years of living with unjust treatment and punishment… and he’s about to forget it all.
Joseph had two sons.  The first born he named him Manasseh, “for God has made me forget all my toil and all my father’s house”.  He forgot all his toil and his father’s house.  It is not an easy thing to do, but it is good for us to forget our toil and the past that has hurt us.  It can weigh us down and prevent us from being successful.  It is important to note that God made him to forget.  Paul tells us in Philippians 3:13 to “forget those things which are behind and reach forward to those things which are ahead”.  It is in the reaching forward, that we are able to forget what was.

Joseph’s second son was named Ephraim “for God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction”.  He credits God for the successes he had during his affliction.  We see throughout the passages in Genesis that Joseph was favored.  He was his father’s favorite, Potiphar made him overseer of his house, the keeper of the prison put him in charge of all the prisoners, and Pharaoh put him over all of his house, and all of the land of Egypt.  Matthew 5:16 says “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven”.  Joseph lived his life in a way that others saw that the Lord was with him.

Joseph’s life is inspiring… not that I want to experience all that he did, but in how he handled everything.  May we live life reaching forward to the things ahead, and always giving credit to God for what He does through us.  The people Joseph encountered saw that the Lord was with him.  May we live in such a way that when we are around people, they see that the Spirit of God is in us. As we go through times of uncertainty, unfair treatment, and suffer at the hands of others, may we remember all He has done, wait patiently on Him, and trust that He has great purpose for our lives!

Prayer
Father God, help me to be patient and trust that You have great purpose and plans.  Help me to remember that ALL things work together for good, and that the trials in my life are shaping me for Your glory.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

Seen and Loved~

April 11, 2020 - Debbie Graham
Seen and Loved 

Focus Verse
“So she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,” for she said, “Truly here I have seen Him who looks after me” (Gen: 16:13).

Hagar was the maid servant of Abram’s wife Sarai.  Sarai had not given Abram offspring that the Lord told him He would (Genesis 15:4), and so Sarai gave her maid servant to her husband in marriage so that through her, Sarai and Abram would have a child heir.
Sarai decided to “help” God, and in doing so, ended up hurting herself and others.  If she had simply waited on God and not tried to “help” Him, she would have avoided the hurt and the pain she inflicted on herself and others.  The consequences of her actions affected many, including an unborn child and the descendants for generations.

Like Hagar, if you have ever had to pay the consequences for the actions of someone else, then you know it is not a place that you want to be.  That is what happened to Hagar when she did what she was told.  She fled… ran away from what was troubling her.  While she was fleeing, she was visited by an angel of the Lord who comforted her.  She felt lost and unseen, but God saw her.  He saw her, and He loved her where she was (Genesis 16:13).  I have been on the end of the consequences of someone else’s bad decisions.

I didn’t physically run away, but in my darkest times when I felt unseen and alone, I was comforted by God letting me know that He saw, He was with me, and I was not alone.  God meets us where we are.  In the times of uncertainty we are currently facing, we can trust that God sees.

While Sarai took matters into her own hands and harmed others, I find it encouraging that we go on to read in chapter 17 that God changed her name to Sarah and blessed her.  We often make some of the same choices that Sarai did, and God can, and will still bless us.

God doesn’t need our help.  If He speaks and says He will do something, He will!  He has been doing it, well, forever!  If He tells us to go and do, then we must submit to Him and be obedient.  We need to believe, have faith, and wait on Him.

Prayer
Father God, please help me to wait on You.  Help me to be still and listen, and trust that You will do what You say.  Allow my past to remind me to trust You more.  Thank you for loving me and being the God who sees me.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

Check On Them~

Check on them~

Do you have single friends who are not working or are working from home?  Check on them.

Do you have single parent friends who are not working or are working from home?  Check on them.

Do you have widowed friends who are not working or are working from home?  Check on them. 

Do you have single parent friends with adult children living at home who are not working or are working from home?  Check on them.  Maybe any of the prior mentioned are still working in an office.  Check on them.

You may look at their Facebook pages, read emails, or see them in a Zoom meeting and think they are just fine because they laugh, smile, and are cheerful.  Some are, but there is still deep pain and concern inside that they don’t want you to see.

 

People who seem to be fine can be battling a whole slew of things.  They don’t have anyone to help them make the critical decisions that need to be made.  They don’t have anyone to help with groceries.  They don’t have a 2^nd income to pay the bills.  They don’t have anyone to co-teach the kids who are doing virtual schooling.  They may have lost their jobs or have taken significant pay cuts.  Some don’t have any way of getting groceries.  Some can’t afford groceries.  Some can’t risk going out in public because of a compromised immune system. 

All of them go to bed alone at night.  No one to comfort them and reassure them.  No one to talk to.  Of course God is always with us, but the tangible being. 

We will say we are fine, we will smile, we will joke, but we still need to be checked on.  The suicide rate has increased significantly since this crisis began (this is not a cry for help, though I cannot lie and say that my Covid mind has not wandered).  We are on an emotional roller coaster and want it to stop.  I fit into several of the categories above and can tell you without a doubt… we need you.  Please do not read this and think that I am only concerned with singles, single parents, and widows.  I know that we are all on the same emotional roller coaster, and all need the comfort, reassurance, support, etc. etc. etc. during this crisis.  I am just sharing from my heart where I am, and know others like me, are with no other adult in the house to share this burden with.  I am sharing so that someone might reach out to someone who is contemplating something none of us want to hear about.