February 22, 2014--Exodus 1-3, Standing in What We Don't Know

PRAYER

Daddy,

I can’t think clearly enough for eloquence, so let me just lay it on the table. Israel is your people, and I am asking you to lay their enemies low. I am asking you to bring down the enemies of Israel with a mighty hand. Bring them down like mountains into dust. I ask that anyone who has the audacity to set themselves up against your people see your hand of judgment raised against them. Be with your people and bless them.

Amen

BIBLE READING

Exodus 1—So everybody we used to know is dead, including the nice pharaoh. Fear has come into play, and we try to control or get rid of what we fear. One of the things I love about this chapter is that the midwives feared God and He gave them families of their own. Gotta love God. J

Exodus 2—I cannot imagine how terrifying it was for Moses’ mom to put him in that basket and leave him in that river where wild animals were and who know what would happen to him. I don’t know if she was a woman of faith or a woman of desperation, but that took tremendous courage.

So life is cushy in the palace, and Moses sees an Egyptian hitting a Hebrew, and he snaps. Next thing you know, he’s in a desert getting married and having babies. Do you wonder if Moses ever sat in that desert and wondered if he had blown it? Did he know he was the deliverer for the Hebrews? Did he think he had blown it beyond redemption? Just wondering.

 Exodus 3—Okay, so let me get this straight. If I am Moses, I am thinking, “You want me to go to Pharaoh, the same Pharaoh I made really mad by killing one his men, the same Pharaoh who tried to kill me, and tell him that this God he can’t see wants him to let all the slaves go, and I will know this is you AFTER we are safe on the other side?”

 And I love this. Moses asks, “Who am I to do this?”

 God does not reply with anything about Moses. He answers concerning Himself. “I will be with you.”

 Simple enough. This is NOTHING about you. This is ALL about me. Not hard.

 Except, it is hard, and people sit there and mouth about Moses’ lack of faith, but really, I think I can understand. God is going to be with him, but it’s not like he can take this non-burning bush around with him to prove it, and not only will the Israelites have their doubts, but Pharaoh is going to be difficult and need miraculous proof.

 “And who am I supposed to tell them told me to do this?”

 “I Am that I Am.”

 I mean seriously. Think about this for a moment. Just…yeah, I can see why Moses is a bit hesitant.

 MEMORIZATION

Muddled minds don’t memorize well, so today I’m reading. For reasons I will blog about later, I am reading Proverbs 31. And her Husband shall rise up and call her blessed. So let it be for me, Lord.

BIBLE STUDY/JOURNAL

I am pondering Moses and how easy it is to stand in what we can see instead of walking in what we can't.

 

Copyright 2014 Jerri Kelley Phillips

January 25, 2014 Genesis 16-18, Praying for Israel, Being Still and Knowing

Last night I attended the visitation for Jack Clark. Today they lay his body to rest. I was up late thinking about a lot of things. It was a good thinking. However, this morning I am running late, but even when I am running late, the first place to run to is Him.

 

PRAYER

Today is Sabbath for Jews and Messianic Jews alike. While we as Christians are grafted into the family of God, the Jews are still the chosen people, and we are told two things in the Bible that should keep the Jewish people and Israel in our prayers.

1.     I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”—Genesis 12:3

2.     Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
  “May those who love you be secure.
May there be peace within your walls
    and security within your citadels.”—Psalm 122:6-7

 Father, this morning I lift up Jerusalem to you, and I ask that you would grant it peace within its walls and security within its citadels. I ask you to stand against the enemies of Israel and pass judgment on them accordingly. I ask you to raise up your people to be a blessing. There are so many answers to the world’s problems within your people. I ask you to make them a showcase. Lord, forgive our country where our leaders have not supported Israel. I ask you to give them a change of heart and turn their hearts to you and your people. I pray that the blessings of Heaven would be poured out on Israel and your people. Reveal your Son to your people and unleash the Holy Spirit as never before so that an even greater harvest of souls unto salvation would come. May you be glorified and exalted among your people and throughout the earth. Amen

BIBLE READING

Genesis 16—I’ll be honest. I think Abram and Sarai are a mess. I mean really. He says, “Lie and tell them you are my sister,” and leaves her to the hand of other men. Thank goodness God  thought more highly of her than Abram did. Then she has this great plan to let him sleep with her maid so the maid would get pregnant. The plan works perfectly, and then, she gets mad and blames Abram. Talk about a dysfunctional couple! And, yet, out of this craziness comes the people of God…and the Savior that allows God to reach people. Oh. My. Lands. Their family line went from an amazing mess to an amazing Messiah. Only an amazing God could pull something like that off. And He is MY amazing God. I wonder what He wants to do with me.

Genesis 17—My take away? Abram did it at once. He didn’t lollygag around. He didn’t give himself time to rationalize not doing it. He didn’t ask for confirmation in fifteen different ways because, really, surely God would never ask for THAT. Nope. He was all in right then. So you know, now I’m asking, “Lord, forgive me for excuses and ignoring you. Can you please repeat anything that I didn’t listen to the first time so I can hear you and do it now?” Yes, I know. If you prayed that, you are really hoping there is nothing. I know. Me, too.

BUT, can we talk about the name change a moment? I am now officially in my mid-40s, and one of the mental torments the enemy likes to toss my way is my age and how much of my life is used up. I want to point out something really big here. Abraham was nearly twice my age when God changed his name. The issue was Abraham’s age. It was God’s plan. NEVER let worldly circumstances dictate heavenly outcomes.

Genesis 18—Fifteen or more years after the original promise of a baby…Sarah laughs at the idea that the promise still holds its power. It is easy to sit here and question how she could doubt God, but the real question is: How can I?

MEMORIZATION

Today I am just simmering in God’s power and faithfulness, and I am challenged. I know some of the promises He has spoken to me, and as I read through Genesis, I am convicted. Am I believing or laughing? Have I let circumstances affect my expectations? As these thoughts roll through my mind, I also hear a verse I memorized two weeks ago.

Be still and know I am God.

I will be exalted among the nations.
I will be exalted in the earth.
--Psalm 46:10—

BIBLE STUDY/JOURNAL

Be still.

And know I am God.

The stilling is first. Then the knowing.

From my journal…

It is tiresome trying to hold onto a promise that never happens…but hurts you, and this just hurts.

Last night I was reading Genesis 13-15, and God made a monster promise to Abram. “Children numbering more than the stars.”

I cannot imagine how hard that was. He and Sarai wanted a baby so badly. It must have been the most raw and painful part of his heart, and God laid it wide open.

Then they waited.

 

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