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Do You Live in the Land of Forgetfulness? –Psalm 88:10-12

May 16, 2013 in 2013 Journey, Blessings with 1 Comment

Today’s Scripture Reading: Psalms 144-145; 88-89

Are your wonderful deeds of any use to the dead?

Do the dead rise up and praise you?

Can those in the grave declare your unfailing love?

Can they proclaim your faithfulness in the place of destruction?

Can the darkness speak of your wonderful deeds?

Can anyone in the land of forgetfulness talk about your righteousness?

 –Psalm 88:10-12

God’s blessings are useless to the dead and those who can’t remember them.

Can I go as far to say that in the context of these verses ‘not’ remembering God’s blessings is the same as being dead?

I hate it when I forget something.  Unfortunately, things like brain overload, stress, aging, etc. can cause us to be forgetful.

I wonder if God says in an understanding way, “They are just so busy; they forgot.”

They forgot…

  • Who provided the job
  • Who provided the nice salary
  • Who blessed them with a spouse and kids
  • Where their talents and gifts came from
Just last night I had two friends sharing in amazement the great things God is doing in their lives.  I said to both of them, “Write it down, or you will forget.”  I know that journaling isn’t for everyone, but you don’t want to forget what God has done and you don’t want to forget how you felt when He did it!

 

How do you think God feels about our forgetfulness?

Heavenly Father, help me not to live in the land of forgetfulness.  If I begin showing signs of  going there, get my attention.  I don’t want to forget all that you have done for me!  Jesus, thank you for the cross.

In Your Name I pray.  Amen and Amen!

 

©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalms 50; Psalms 73-74

Step Up and Claim What’s Yours–Joshua 21:2-3

March 29, 2013 in 2013 Journey, Blessings, Choices, Faith, Joshua, The Promises of God, Word of God with 1 Comment

Today’s Scripture Reading:  Joshua 19:49 through Joshua 21:45; 1 Chronicles 6:54 through 1 Chronicles 6:81

So the division of the land was completed. –Joshua 19:51b.

Everybody saw their promise fulfilled.

Everybody…Except the Levites.

Here are a few points to remember–

The Levites…

The Levites took one for the team; not that they had a choice.  They became the first-born.  Yes, it was an honor to be set apart by God but they were missing out on receiving an inheritance like the rest of the Israelites.  I wonder if they ever wished they could change tribes.

As we are reminded in today’s reading, provisions were made for the Levites in the Promised Land …

The Lord Commanded Moses to give the Levites towns to live in and pasture lands for their livestock. –Joshua 21:2

I really feel bad for the Levites—they must have felt left out and unappreciated.  Everyone in the camp was so excited; they had finally received their own piece of the Promised Land…EXCEPT the Levites.   How could they forget them?

They way I see it the Levites had a choice—

  • They could pout
  • They could step up and claim what was theirs

Look closely at verses two and three of chapter 21 of Joshua—

The Levites didn’t whine, complain and shout, “How could you?”  They just quoted the law, The Lord commanded Moses to give us towns to live in and pastureland for our livestock.

The very next verse was their leaders’ response…

So by the command of the Lord the people of Israel gave the Levites the following towns and pasture lands out of their own grants of land.

The Levites weren’t the only folks to have to remind their leaders about a promise.  Remember, in Joshua 14, Caleb reminded Joshua that he was promised the land of Canaan and Joshua blessed Caleb and gave him the land.

This is amazing!  No discussion, no debate; they just gave them what was theirs; because their promise was written in The Law.

The Bible is full of promises for you and me!  It’s impossible to count them but several of the sources I checked estimated 1260.  Wow!

Friends, are you thinking what I’m thinking?  If it’s mine I WANT IT!  I wonder how many well-meaning Christians have lived life below their privileges because they either…

–Did not know what their inheritance was

–Did not step up to claim it

This is why we need to read the Bible cover to cover. This is why we need to keep a record of the promises God speaks to us! Together we will know Him and His Promise more each today!

Standing on the Promises of God!

©2012, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  Joshua 22:1 through Joshua 24:33

When…not If–Deuteronomy 26:1

March 19, 2013 in 2013 Journey, Biblical Principles, Blessings, Deuteronomy, Obedience, The Promises of God with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 26:1-29:1

When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, (26:1)

not

if

or

maybe

but

WHEN!

When the Lord gave these words to Moses “entering the Promised Land” hadn’t happened yet.  For forty years they had heard they were going into the Promised Land.

Do you think some of the Children of Israel may have whispered, “Don’t you mean ‘if’ we enter the Promised Land?”

So much of the Bible we read as history, but when it was written it was prophesy.  We know they went into the Promised Land, but like I said in an earlier post—hindsight is always 20/20.

Do we live like Jesus could come today?

Are we thinking, ‘if’ Jesus comes back not ‘when’ Jesus comes back?

Reading the Bible from cover to cover lets me know that if what God said came to pass in the Israelites day; the rest of His promises will come to pass as well!

There was a second piece of this “prophesy” in today’s reading.

Depending on your obedience you will either be blessed or cursed. Were the Israelites blessed or cursed?

Thirty years ago a traveler taking a train across dry and dusty Palestine  remarked, “And the Bible calls this a land of milk and honey!”

A man overheard, tapped him on the shoulder, and showed him these words:

Your children who follow you in later generations and foreigners who come from distant lands will see the calamities that have fallen on the land and the diseases with which the Lord hath afflicted it. The whole land will be a burning waste of salt and sulfur—nothing planted, nothing sprouting, no vegetation growing on it. It will be like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the Lord overthrew in fierce anger.

All the nations will ask: “Why has the Lord done this to this land? Why this fierce burning anger?”   Deuteronomy 29:22–24

(Richards, Larry ; Richards, Lawrence O.: The Teacher’s Commentary. Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1987, S. 157)

When I read the passage in Deuteronomy 28:15 through 29:50 last year I wrote in the margin “this sounds a little bit like our country.”

Oh Father, help us to be obedient to you!  I pray for the United States of America.  Help those of us who profess to be your children to humble themselves (ourselves) and pray and seek my (Your) face and turn from their (our) wicked ways, I (You) will hear from heaven and will forgive their (our) sins and restore their (our) land. --2 Chronicles 7:14-15

In Jesus Name, Amen and Amen!

©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 29:2 through Deuteronomy 31:29

When’s The Last Time You Blessed Someone? Numbers 6:24-26

March 1, 2013 in 2013 Journey, Blessings, Choices, Numbers, speaking God's Words, The Power of Words with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading:  Numbers 6:1 through Numbers 6:27, Numbers 10:1 through Numbers 10:36

After just less than a year of being camped on Mount Sinai, the Israelites are finally moving toward their Promised Land…

They must have been so excited!  As they made preparations to leave, the Lord told Moses to have Aaron and his sons bless the people of Israel with a special blessing:

  • May the Lord bless you and protect you.
  • May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you.
  • May the Lord show you His favor and give you His Peace. –Numbers 6:24-26

I love verse 27:  “Whenever Aaron and his sons bless the people of Israel in my name, I myself will bless them.” 

If you have attended church for any length of time you may have heard your pastor “bless” you at the conclusion of the service.  Even though we’ve barely begun our journey through the Bible, but we’ve heard much about “the blessing.”  The first time the word bless (ed-ing) was used by in Genesis 1:22:

Then God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply. Let the fish fill the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.”

It is used 508 times throughout the Bible.  God, our heavenly Father blessed his children and taught his children to bless their children and others.

508 times–it must be important!

Words are powerful.  With each word that comes out of our mouth we are either blessing or cursing.  Just yesterday I was speaking to someone I love and used my words to curse them.  No, I didn’t speak curse words. It was really worse than curse words, it was words that tear down rather than lift up.

I pray that we learn to speak beautiful blessings to others like the one we read about today, but I also pray we think about the everyday words we speak to the ones we love the most and make sure we’re blessing not cursing, speaking life not death.

Have a great week-end!

 

©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  Numbers 11:1 through Numbers 13:33

Today Could Be The Day!

January 15, 2013 in 2013 Journey, Blessings, Commitment, Faith, Genesis, Giving Our Best to God, leadership, righteous living, The Promises of God, Tough Times, Trials, Workplace with 0 Comments

Today’s scripture reading: Genesis 40: 1-23; Genesis 35: 28-29; Genesis 41:1-57

 

Sometime later (Gen 40:1) + quite some time (Gen. 40:4) + two full years (Gen. 41:1) = a  l-o-n-g  time!

 

In Genesis 37, we are told Joseph was seventeen years old when he was sold by his brothers.  From the sources that I checked, he was approximately 30 years old when he got out of prison.  THIRTEEN YEARS!

Just think about Joseph waking up that final morning.  It was like any other morning.

He went through his same routine, was just doing his job, when in an instant—it was all over.

Can you imagine the thoughts that were running through his head as he was shaving to go before Pharaoh?

I wonder if he had lost hope of getting out of that prison.

He probably thought the cupbearer had forgotten him…

…He probably thought God had forgotten him.

One of the many things that amaze me about Joseph is his commitment to excellence.  Yes, God was with him but Joseph could have missed his destiny by having a bad attitude, but he didn’t.  He did a great job without a salary, a day off, or any future hope of getting out; because it was the right thing to do!

Not only did he do the right thing, he said the right thing! In Genesis 40:8, Joseph says to the cup-bearer and the baker, “Interpreting dreams is God’s business.”  Then in Genesis 41:16 he told Pharaoh, “It is beyond my power to do this.  But God can tell you what it means and set you at ease.”

Wow, thirteen years made a big difference!

No longer was Joseph a self-righteous, self-vindicating teenager.  Now wisdom so exuded from Joseph’s countenance that Pharaoh was willing to turn his whole kingdom over to him after brief conversation.  But it’s like Pharaoh said, “Can we find anyone like this man so obviously filled with the Spirit of God?” (Genesis 41:38)

Somewhere in those thirteen years change occurred.

I love R.T. Kendall’s commentary on this chapter:

“If God puts his finger on you, it is enough to change you, your family, your church—even a nation and the world.  The highest compliment a man can ever have is to be tapped on the shoulder by God.  When that happens wonderful things are at hand.  Yet, when that happens it means that a time of preparation is also at hand.”

Joseph had thirteen years of preparation and then in one day God moved him into the role planned just for him.  In Jeremiah 29:11, God tells us he has plans for us, just like Joseph.

No, we may not be the second in command of a nation and saving the Jewish race, but God is preparing each of us for what he made us for; so get excited!

Today could be the day you’re called upon to do what the God of the Universe made you for!

Don’t miss it!

And if you have to wait another day; follow Joseph’s example and live today with excellence!

Thanking God for the opportunity to serve Him!

 

Tomorrow’s scripture reading: January 16: Genesis 42: 1-45:15

Let Me Tell You About My Grandchildren—Mark 10:13-16

October 21, 2012 in 2012 Journey, Blessings, Family, Luke, Mark, Matthew, Parenting, Proverbs with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading: Luke 18:9-14,Mark 10:1-12, Matthew 19:1-12, Mark 10:13-16, Matthew 19:13-15, Luke 18:15-17, Mark 10:17-31, Matthew 19:16-30, Luke 18:18-30

Let me show you a picture of my grandchildren! Four of them are missing in this picture, but it was a rare photo opportunity to get this many of them together !

The one, true, living God of the universe spoke each of them into existence.

God could have chosen a million different ways to fill His earth, but He chose to do it through children…

Jesus made sure we knew the value of children.  He also told us that the only way we can receive the Kingdom of God is like a child:

One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.

When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them!  For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children.  I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”  Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them. –Mark 10:13-16

How do we receive the Kingdom of God like a child?

  • Children are helpless, unable to save themselves
  • Totally dependent on the mercy and grace of God
  • A child enjoys much but can explain very little
  • Children live by faith
  • They trust others to take care of them
  • Children immediately go to their parents when they are  hurt or have a problem

Wiersbe, Warren W.: The Bible Exposition Commentary

It’s so easy for children to believe in and have faith in God.  I see this in my grandkids.  When we pray for them to feel better, they believe they will.

They wholeheartedly believe God…

  • Is who He says He is
  • Will do what He says He will do

What happens?

How do we go from a little child who totally believes in God and believes God, to doubting who He is and what he says?

The pull of this sinful world is huge.  From the time a child is conceived a battle begins…a battle for their soul. That’s why we must train up our children in the ways of God and the things of God (Proverbs 22:6); so that when they grow up they still have child-like faith.

Children are a gift from God (Psalm 127:3).  Lord, help me to live a life that leads my grandchildren straight to you.

In Jesus’ Name.  Amen and Amen!

 

© 2012 Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  Matthew 20:1-6, Mark 10:32-34, Matthew 20:17-19, Luke 18:31-34, Mark 10:35-45, Matthew 20:20-34, Mark 10:46-52, Luke 18:35-19:27

Are You Too Proud to Beg?—Matthew 15:21-28

October 11, 2012 in 2012 Journey, Blessings, Jesus, Mark, Matthew, Pride, Tough Times with 2 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading: Mark 7:24-30, Matthew 15:21-28, Mark 7:31-37, Matthew 15:29-31, Mark 8:1-10, Matthew 15:32-16:4, Mark 8:11-21, Matthew 16:5-12

In most cases I probably am too proud to beg.  I would much rather be the one helping than the one who needs help.  I hate feeling like I’m inconveniencing someone.

Today’s reading reminded me of a time when “the classroom of life” put me in a place where I had to ask for help, accept kindness, support, and assistance from others on many occasions.   I remember praying and tell the Lord that I would rather “minister to” than “be ministered to.”

He said, “I had to learn both.”

How do you feel about asking for help?

 

In Matthew 15:21-28, Jesus was visiting a Gentile area, when a Canaanite woman begged him to heal her demon-possessed daughter. Jesus responded first with silence, and then declared that his mission was only to Israel (15:24). When the woman continued to seek his help, he stressed again that his mission was to Jews only. When she still persisted, he commended her faith and granted her healing.

Here are a few things I noticed about the Canaanite woman:

  • She found Jesus when He was trying His best to remain hidden (Mark 7:24)
  • She was persistent (v. 25)
  • She expected a miracle (v. 21)
  • She worshiped in the midst of her pain and travail before the Lord (v.25)
  • She ignored tradition and acted on what she knew about Jesus
  • She knew her worth as a human being and believed she was deserving of a miracle, because the crumbs from Jesus are better that the food on the table from the world (v.27)
  • She displayed her faith with her actions and words

Are you this persistent when you need a miracle, an answer, or comfort from the Lord?

How would your situation change if “just for today” you found the determination of the Canaanite woman and made up your mind:

  • To do whatever it takes to find Jesus
  • To determine to “Not” give up
  • To REALLY expect Jesus to answer your prayer
  • To worship Him because He is God and is worthy of worship
  • To believe that Jesus came, died on the cross for you too, not just other people
  • To verbalize your faith in Jesus’ power to act on your behalf

Heavenly Father, have mercy on us.  We worship You and thank you for being our Savior.  Strengthen our faith today.

In Jesus’ Name.  Amen and Amen!

 

© 2012 Dianne Guthmuller
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Mark 8:22-30, Matthew 16:13-20, Luke 9:18-20, Mark 8:31-9:1, Matthew 16:21-28, Luke 9:21-27, Mark 9:2-13, Matthew 17:1-13, Luke 9:28-36

Can Your Boss Say This About You?—Nehemiah 2:1

September 17, 2012 in 2012 Journey, Blessings, leadership, Nehemiah, Prayer, Success, Workplace with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading:  Ezra 9:1 through Ezra 10:44, Nehemiah 1:1-2:20

What’s one word your boss would use to describe you?

Nehemiah’s boss probably described him as happy.

Early the following spring, in the month of Nisan, during the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ reign, I (Nehemiah) was serving the king his wind.  I had never before appeared sad in his presence. –Nehemiah 2:1 (explanation mine)

How important is a positive, happy attitude in the workplace?

Positive-attitude-tips.com says a resounding “it’s very important” and offered ten benefits of a positive attitude in the workplace:

  1. Career Success
  2. Stress Reduction
  3. Less sick days and better productivity
  4. Improved customer relations and/or sales
  5. Become a better leader
  6. Improve the attitude of other employees or those who report to you
  7. Improve teamwork
  8. Improve motivation for yourself and others
  9. Improve decision-making and overcome challenges
  10. Improve interpersonal relations

Nehemiah hadn’t been to business school and hadn’t read a book on success in the workplace, EXCEPT God’s Word (which is where all good leadership principles come from), but he knew enough to make sure he displayed a happy, positive attitude before the king. In his youth Nehemiah was appointed to the important office of royal cup-bearer at the palace of Shushan; a privileged position.

In Nehemiah 2:1-10, the king noticed Nehemiah was unusually distraught and asked him why he was looking so sad.  When Nehemiah told him that Jerusalem, the city of his ancestors was in ruins the king said, “Well, how can I help you?” (v.  2-4)

And with a prayer to the God of heaven Nehemiah boldly asked the king

  • For a leave-of-absence from his job to build the wall
  • To provide endorsement letters instructing the governors of the province west of the Euphrates River to allow Nehemiah to travel safely  through their territories
  • For the needed timber to build beams for the gates of the Temple fortress, for the city walls, and for a house for himself

And the king granted these requests, because the gracious hand of God was on Nehemiah.

God’s favor in the workplace is an amazing thing, but we have to do our part.  If your boss has a choice between a negative, complaining employee or a positive, happy person, he will choose the positive person every time.  This is especially true when bosses are choosing their inner circle of leadership.  They want to feel better about themselves and their company and having people on their team who have a good attitude and enjoy life helps to build a great team.

 

There’s one more reason for having an attitude like Nehemiah; it’s what Jesus would do.

 

Heavenly Father, help us to live a life in our homes, workplaces, and churches that will cause others to know You more.  Help us to strive to be the best employers and employees so that the name “Christian” will be synonymous with character and integrity in the world today.

In Jesus’Name.  Amen and Amen.

 

© 2012 Dianne Guthmuller


Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 3:1 through 7:3

Two Words That are Big Deals to God…Zechariah 8:14-17

September 12, 2012 in 2012 Journey, Blessings, Choices, Failure, leadership, Obedience, Zechariah with 0 Comments


 

Today’s Scripture Reading: Zechariah 6:1-15; Ezra 5:3-6:14a; Zechariah 7:1-8:23

Have you ever wanted to do something special for someone but because you know them so well, you are concerned they will either–

  • Not appreciate it
  • Use it for harm
  • Brag about it and cause dissension
  • Lie about the reason you did it to them

In today’s reading our Heavenly Father had  those same feelings about His people, the Jews.  He had been so angry with them that He abandoned them to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, who destroyed the Temple and exiled the people to Babylonia (Ezra 5:12). After 70 years God’s heart is once again tender towards His people.

“But now I will not treat the remnant of my people as I treated them before, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. For I am planting seeds of peace and prosperity among you. The grapevines will be heavy with fruit. The earth will produce its crops, and the heavens will release the dew. Once more I will cause the remnant in Judah and Israel to inherit these blessings. Among the other nations, Judah and Israel became symbols of a cursed nation. 

But no longer! Now I will rescue you and make you both a symbol and a source of blessing. So don’t be afraid. Be strong, and get on with rebuilding the Temple!

For this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: I was determined to punish you when your ancestors angered me, and I did not change my mind, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 

But now I am determined to bless Jerusalem and the people of Judah. So don’t be afraid. 

But this is what you must do: 

  1. Tell the truth to each other. 
  2. Render verdicts in your courts that are just and that lead to peace. 
  3. Don’t scheme against each other. 
  4. Stop your love of telling lies that you swear are the truth. 

I hate all these things, says the Lord.”  –Zechariah 8:11-17

 

Friends, this isn’t the first time God mentions justice and mercy. These qualities are a big deal to our Heavenly Father; He doesn’t use the “hate” word that often.

 

Today’s Christian has a way of prioritizing sin, deciding which ones are worse than others.

God’s priorities are different than ours.

No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you:

  • To do what is right, 
  • To love mercy,
  • And to walk humbly with your God.  –Micah 6:8

Heavenly Father, help our hearts to be tender to the things that are most important to You.  We want Your blessings. Help us not to tie Your hands.  Help us to do what’s right; to love mercy and show it to everyone we come in contact with and to walk humbly before You.

In Jesus’ Name.  Amen and Amen!

 

© 2012 Dianne Guthmuller
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Zechariah 9:1-14:21

Words That Can Take the Fun Out of a Blessing—Ezekiel 36:32

August 30, 2012 in 2012 Journey, Biblical Principles, Blessings, Ezekiel, Holiness with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading:  Ezekiel 34:1 through Ezekiel 36:38

“Dianne, I’m going to bless you but you don’t deserve it!”  Ouch!  Those words could sure take the fun out my blessing.

As a parent I’m sad to say that I must have said that to my kids at some point, but hearing it from God, now that’s another story…

Things are looking up for the Israelites, God says He’s bringing them back to their home land; they will be coming home soon (36:8)!

  • I care about you (v. 9)
  • I will pay attention to you (v.9)
  • Your ground will be plowed and your crops planted (v.9)
  • I will greatly increase the populations of Israel (v.10)
  • The ruined cities will be rebuilt (v.10)
  • I will increase your people and your animals (v.11)
  • I will make your more prosperous than you were before (v.11)

Just think about it, the Israelites are in exile in Babylon, thinking they’re never going home, when Ezekiel shares the good news with them.  Surely the celebration plans were already beginning when Ezekiel tells them the sobering reason they are going home—

Therefore, give the people of Israel this message from the Sovereign Lord: I am bringing you back, but not because you deserve it. I am doing it to protect my holy name, on which you brought shame while you were scattered among the nations.  I will show how holy my great name is—the name on which you brought shame among the nations. And when I reveal my holiness through you before their very eyes, says the Sovereign Lord, then the nations will know that I am the Lord. (Ezekiel 36: 22-23 emphasis mine)

“God, you mean it’s not about me?”

“Lord, You would bless me to protect Your Holy Name?”

“Lord, You would bless me so that others would know that You are the Lord?”

What would happen if our prayers, our desires, our priorities, our time, talent, and treasure were all about glorifying the Name of the Lord and causing others to know Him?

We would be world-changers; not frustrated, burned-out, tired,

trying-to-make-it Christians.

How do we stop the “selfishness train” to nowhere and get on the “it’s all about Him rocket-ship” to a life that makes a difference for the Kingdom?

Ask God to do what he promised to do for the Israelites:

And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.  And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations. –Ezekiel 36:26-27

Heavenly Father, in my natural unholy state, I am a disgrace to Your Name, but because of Your Son, Jesus Christ I can have a new heart and a new spirit.  I can be holy, tender and responsive to Your Spirit so that Your Name will be glorified and others will know You more.  Help me walk in that confidence today! Lord, I don’t deserve it but bless me for the honor of Your Name.

In Jesus’ Name.  Amen and Amen!

 

© 2012 Dianne Guthmuller

 Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  Ezekiel 37:1 through Ezekiel 39:29; Ezekiel 32:1-16

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