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A Heart-Shaped Cloud–Exodus 40:34-38

February 14, 2013 in 2013 Journey, Exodus, Holy Spirit with 0 Comments


Today’s Scripture: Exodus 39:32-40:38; Numbers 9:15-23

Once again (Genesis 1:1-2) we find the Spirit of God hovering over the earth.

Then the cloud covered the Tabernacle, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle. Moses could no longer enter the Tabernacle because the cloud had settled down over it, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle.

Now whenever the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out on their journey, following it.  But if the cloud did not rise, they remained where they were until it lifted. The cloud of the Lord hovered over the Tabernacle during the day, and at night fire glowed inside the cloud so the whole family of Israel could see it.

This continued throughout all their journeys. –Exodus 40:34-38

It’s so easy to read something in the Word of God and zoom right past it, but today the image of the Spirit-filled cloud lingered in my mind. It made me think of an early morning fog on an almost spring day.

In the South we have a lot of foggy evenings and early mornings, especially this time of year.  I live about a 100 yards from the bay; it’s amazing to watch the fog roll in and settle in the trees between our house and the water.  If you stay outside for more than a minute you can actually feel the mist from the fog.

I wonder…

  • If the cloud of the Spirit of God was like the misty fog rolling in across the bay?
  • If the Israelites could feel the of Presence of God as He hovered over the camp?
  • If the Israelites saw God’s Spirit hovering over them as a sign of His love?
  • If the Israelites took God’s presence for granted?

Can we have the Spirit of God hovering over us today?

And I (Jesus) will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. –John 14:16-17

New Testament Christ Followers have it so much better than the Israelites.  We have the Spirit of God in us, not just hovering over us.

But there is a problem.

It’s easier to follow something tangible like a cloud than to get quiet enough to listen and wait for the Spirit of God within us to direct us.

No wonder Satan, the enemy of God, works so hard to keep us mentally engaged with the things of the world; he doesn’t want us to get quiet enough to hear the “still, small voice” of the Living God.

What is God saying to you today?

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Love.  Thank You for making a way for me, a sinful, ordinary human being, to know the love of my amazing God, Creator, Savior, and soon coming King!  Lord, speak to me today; show me Your way. Holy Spirit thank You for going with me on “all my journeys.”

In Jesus’ Name.  Amen and Amen!

 

©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture: Numbers 7:1-89

What is Your Badge of Holiness? Exodus 39:30

February 13, 2013 in 2013 Journey, Christian Living, Exodus, Holiness, righteous living with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading: Exodus 37:1-39:31

Holiness.

What’s the first thing you think of when you hear that word?

When I was in the 9th grade my family moved from Panama City, Florida to a very small town 50 miles North called Cottondale.  In one-red-light towns there aren’t many housing options, so my family bought the only house available.

I guess you could say our new house was on “holy” ground.  There was a grave yard behind us that connected to the Methodist church.  Across the street was a monument company that made headstones and vaults for caskets.  To the right of us was an old-fashioned “holiness” church.

Since my room was on the holiness church side (I’m sure glad I didn’t have to look at the grave yard) I love to watch the folks arrive on Sundays and Wednesdays.  All the women looked alike: hair in a bun, no makeup, long skirts.

Was their outward appearance their “badge of holiness”?

Aaron, the first high priest of the Israelites was given a “badge of holiness” by the Lord that attached to his turban.  This “badge” had the words inscribed, HOLY TO THE LORD.

The word holy in this particular context means apartness, holiness, sacredness, and separateness.

Aaron’s plate, his sacred emblem, his badge of holiness was designed by God to set him apart from everyone else.

Maybe, Aaron’s badge of holiness was more for Aaron than the Israelites.

Remember, just a few chapters ago, right after he was anointed as the high priest, Aaron helped the Israelites create a golden calf and watched as they gave it credit for rescuing them from Egypt.

Maybe, God decided to give Aaron something to remind him that he was set apart for sacred duty.

Who knows, maybe that’s what the little ladies at the holiness church had in mind also.

The Word of God doesn’t tell us that we have to dress a certain way (except modestly of course),

but

it’s very clear that He expects the world to know Him by our love (John 13:35)

Humm…it sounds like our love for others is our badge of holiness.

Heavenly Father, set us apart with Your badge of holiness.  Help us to love others in such a way that points them to You.  Lord, make us holy because You are holy.

In Jesus’ Name.  Amen and Amen!

 

 

©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Exodus 39:32-40:38

I Want to Be Willing–Exodus 35:20-22

February 12, 2013 in 2013 Journey, Choices, Exodus, The Hurting World with 1 Comment

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Today’s Scripture Reading: Exodus 35:1-36:38

 So the whole community of Israel left Moses and returned to their tents. All whose hearts were stirred and whose spirits were moved came and brought their sacred offerings to the LORD. They brought all the materials needed for the Tabernacle,  for the performance of its rituals, and for the sacred garments. Both men and women came, all whose hearts were willing. They brought to the LORD their offerings of gold—brooches, earrings, rings from their fingers, and necklaces. They presented gold objects of every kind as a special offering to the LORD.  –Exodus 35:20-22

I want a heart that is willing.

I want a heart that is stirred.

I don’t want to live some superficial life that is all about me and mine.

I want to live a life that makes a difference in eternity.

Jesus, help me to understand that I have unique gifts, specialized skills, and world-changing abilities that You have been developing in me since You made me in the womb (Psalm 139:13-18).

Lord, I know I can’t do everything, but I can do something.

Please show me where, when, and how to make a difference in this world.

Lord, there are so many hurting people. Help my heart to be tender towards them. Use me today to lift someone’s burden; use me today to point someone to You.

In Jesus’ Name. Amen and Amen!

There’s a line in this song by Hillsong that says, “Break my heart for what breaks Yours.” That is my prayer today!

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©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Exodus 37:1-39:31

Lord, Help Me to Wait Well–Exodus 32:1

February 11, 2013 in 2013 Journey, Choices, Exodus, leadership, Obedience, Patience with 0 Comments


Today’s Scripture Reading: Exodus 32:1-34:35

Heavenly Father, as I read about Aaron and the children of Israel worshipping a golden calf while Moses was on the mountain talking to You, I got really mad.  I thought, “Stupid Israelites!”

“How could they do that, after all You had done for them; after all the miracles they had seen?

“After all, Aaron had just been anointed priest over all Israel and he made the idol for them!”

“What was wrong with him ?”

“Why couldn’t he wait, he knew Moses was with God?”

But then I thought, “Dianne, you don’t wait well either.” “How many times have you taken matters into your own hands because things weren’t ‘happening fast enough’?”

Lord how many times has our impatience gotten in the way of Your plans for our…

  • Relationships
  • Health
  • Careers
  • Finances
  • Ministries
  • Spiritual growth

Jesus, forgive us for our impatience.  Forgive us for thinking others things or people can do what only You can do.  Help us to trust Your timing.

Help us to say with Moses “Lord, if You don’t personally go with us, then we don’t want to go at all. For Your presence among us sets us apart from all the other people on the earth.”  (Exodus 33:15)

Lord, give us grace for the waiting room.

Lord, teach us to serve You while we’re waiting.

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In Jesus’ Name.  Amen and Amen!

 

 

©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Exodus 35:1-36:38

The Finger of God–Exodus 31:18

February 10, 2013 in 2013 Journey, Exodus, leadership with 2 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading:  Exodus 29:1 through Exodus 31:18

There were several amazing things in today’s reading…

  • God started talking to Moses in Exodus 25:1 and didn’t stop until Exodus 31:18 (Thanks to my hubby for pointing  this out!)
  • It was important to God that His priests were set apart in dress and ceremonial activities. –Exodus 29:1-37
  • God wanted to be with his creation:  “…there I will meet with you and speak with you.  I will meet the people of Israel there, in the place made holy by my glorious presence.  Yes, I will consecrate the Tabernacle and the altar, and I will consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve me as priests.  Then I will live among the people of Israel and be their God, and they will know that I am the Lord their God.  I am the one who brought them out of the land of Egypt so that I could live among them.  I am the Lord their God.”  –Exodus 29:42b-46
  • In the Old Covenant each male Israelite was required to pay a ransom to get the Lord’s attention and purify their lives.  In the New Covenant, Jesus paid the ransom for us. –Matt. 20:28
  • God specifically chose Bezalel and filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts (Exodus 31:2).  Here’s a perfect example of  ‘God qualifies who He calls’.
  • God knew that two heads were better than one and that it was important to know who was in charge, so he appointed Oholiab to be Bezalel’s assistant.
  • God made it clear that the plans had already been drawn and they were to be followed “exactly”.  They weren’t the design team; they were the implementation team.  –Exodus 31:11b
  • Setting aside a day to honor the Lord and be refreshed was a really big deal to Him. –Exodus 31:12
  • The covenant was written on two stone tablets by the finger of God! –Exodus 31:18

My eyes filled with tears as I let the reality of Exodus 29:42-46 soak into my spirit.  God built the Tabernacle  because He wanted to be with his creation.  It makes me think back to Exodus 20:19, when the Israelites said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen.  But don’t let God speak directly to us, or we will die!”

As a parent I think about how God must have felt— His children didn’t want to talk to Him… it makes me sad.  He wanted to be their God, He wanted to live among them and he wanted them to know that He was their God.  God wanted a relationship.  This is as true today as it was in Exodus 20—God wants to be our God and He wants us to know that He is our God!

Father God, write your Word on our hearts with Your finger!

 

 

©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  Exodus 32:1 through Exodus 34:35

Lord, Can You Talk to Me Like Moses? Exodus 27:8

February 9, 2013 in 2013 Journey, Exodus, God Speaks today, Spiritual Disciplines, Word of God with 1 Comment

Today’s Scripture Reading: Exodus 25:1-28:43

Heavenly Father,

As I read Your detailed instructions for building Your Holy Place I couldn’t help but think, “I wish the Lord would give me those kind of instructions for my life.”

  • Turn left here
  • Say yes to that opportunity
  • No is definitely the answer to that question
  • Don’t do it, danger ahead!
  • Stop!
  • Go!
  • Yes!
  • No!
  • Wait!

As soon as the words walked through my mind, it was as if  You said, “My Word is your instruction book.”  “My Holy Spirit speaks to your spirit.”

If…

you go to the mountain.” (Exodus 25:40, Exodus 26:30, Exodus 27:8)

Heavenly Father, help us to “go to the mountain” each day to worship You and to get instructions for the day.  Help us to understand that daily time spent in Your Word, meditating on Your blessings, talking about the things that trouble us, asking for Your guidance and recording our thoughts as we spend time with You is just like Moses’ time spent on the mountain.

Lord, speak to us today!

In Jesus’ Name.  Amen and Amen!

 

 

©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Exodus 29:1-31:18

Which One Would You Choose? –Exodus 20:19

February 8, 2013 in 2013 Journey, Becoming a Christ Follower, Choices, Exodus, God Speaks today, Prayer, Word of God with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading:  Exodus 22:16 through Exodus 24:18

As I read today’s reading, I thought it was very interesting that the Israelites did not want God to speak directly to them (Exodus 20:19).  This was right after God gave the people the Ten Commandments.  I wonder how different things would have been if the Israelites would have chosen to hear directly from God.  I see a similarity in today’s world.

If there were two options to being a Christ follower and you could choose, which one would you pick?

  1. Be in constant communication with God so that you know His ways, His thoughts, His Word and His desires
  2. Get a onetime list of all the dos and don’ts and follow that list each day

The Israelites definitely chose option 2.

I think they thought it was the easiest way.

But before we’re too hard on the Israelites, don’t many of us just want to go to church on Sundays and have the pastor “hear from God” and give us an executive summary.

Let’s go one step further, don’t we sometimes want a pastor, teacher, friend or even a stranger to pray for us or someone we love, before we  whisper a prayer to God for ourselves.

Dear Lord help us to never settle for a second-hand experience with you!  Holy Spirit, draw us to your Word each day!  Strengthen our desire to communicate with you through prayer and meditation. Jesus, Make us more like you!  Amen and Amen!

Here is my favorite rule in today’s reading:  “Take no bribes, for a bribe makes you ignore something that you clearly see.  A bribe makes even a righteous person twist the  truth.”   ~Exodus 23:8

Could we open the Bible to this page and have all of our politicians swear to live by this scripture?  **I’m sorry, but I just couldn’t resist  :-)

Have a great week-end!

Let’s Have a First-hand Experience with God!

 

 

©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow Scripture Reading:  Exodus 25:1 through Exodus 28:43

Can You Talk to God for Me? Exodus 20:19

February 7, 2013 in 2013 Journey, Exodus, God Speaks today, Prayer, Spiritual Disciplines with 0 Comments


Today’s Scripture Reading: Exodus 20:1-22:15

When the people heard the thunder and the loud blast of the ram’s horn, and when they saw the flashes of lightning and the smoke billowing from the mountain, they stood at a distance, trembling with fear.

And they said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen. But don’t let God speak directly to us, or we will die!”

“Don’t be afraid,” Moses answered them, “for God has come in this way to test you, and so that your fear of him will keep you from sinning!”

As the people stood in the distance, Moses approached the dark cloud where God was.

–Exodus 20:18-21

As I read these words my first thought was one of judgment.  “Those dumb Israelites, they had the privilege of being in the “literal” presence of the one and only living God and they let fear steal that awesome experience.”

But once again observing the Israelites is like looking at ourselves in a mirror.

What keeps you from experiencing God?

  • Fear of being convicted of sinful choices
  • God is at the bottom of your priorities
  • You don’t really believe He hears you
  • “God time” doesn’t fit into your plans
  • It doesn’t seem like God is there
  • God’s always there, I’ll catch Him later
  • Distractions by media (phone, computer, TV, etc)
  • A busy brain, can’t seem to focus (this is me)

We have it so much better than the Israelites.

We have Jesus as our mediator.

He’s our constant connection to our Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit is our constant connection to Jesus.

Yet, we would prefer to hear our preacher give us a one hour, once-a-week God update and then be on our way to the important things; pleasure and making a living.

What keeps you from experiencing God?

Heavenly Father, forgive us for being like the Israelites. Forgive us for all the missed opportunities.  Holy Spirit, don’t stop calling us, don’t stop reminding us.  Help us to overcome the carefully crafted distractions of our day, designed by our enemy to keep up from spending time with You.   Lord, teach us and guide us as we seek to know You more.

In Jesus’ Name.  Amen and Amen!

 

©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Exodus 22:16-24:18

Stand Still…No, Get Moving!

February 5, 2013 in 2013 Journey, Exodus, Faith, God Speaks today, Prayer, Trials, Trust with 6 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading:  Exodus 13:1 through Exodus 15:27

Moses told the people “Don’t be afraid.  Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today.  The Egyptians you see today will never been seen again.  The Lord himself will fight for you.  Just stay calm.” –Ex. 14:13-14

The very next sentence…

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me?  Tell the people to get moving!” –Ex. 14:15

There is a time to stand still and stay calm.

AND

There is a time to get moving.

I wonder when we get to heaven and ask God some of our “why” questions if He will say, “the problem was, you wouldn’t get moving!”

Maybe when we are scared to death and begging God to fix the problem, heal our child, save our marriage, restore our health, sell the house, or put some money in our account; we should be asking, “God, what do you want me to do?” “How do you want me to get moving?”

Don’t get me wrong, our God answers prayer.  I could keep you here for hours testifying to that fact from my “God” experiences.

Maybe, it’s both/and kind of thing.

Maybe, we need to pray like everything depends on God and “get moving” like it all depends on us!

A few additional highlights from today’s reading:

  • It was really important to God that the future generations knew about the rescue from Egypt (Exodus 13:8, 13:14)
  • When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the Lord had unleashed against the Egyptians they were filled with awe before him.  They put their faith in the Lord and in his servant Moses.  (Exodus 14:31)

Just like many of  us (I’m at the front of the line) they were singing the right song on the wrong side of the sea.

It’s not faith when we believe AFTER the miracle!

  • God gave Israel a standard to test their faithfulness to Him:

If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in  His sight, obeying His commands and keeping all His decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the Lord who heals you. –Exodus 15:26

Lord, show us how this applies to my life today!

Dear Heavenly Father, there is so much wisdom in today’s scripture…

Word of God Speak…

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Amen and Amen!

 

 

 

©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Exodus 16:1 through Exodus 19:25

Does God Use Your Emotions to Get His Will Accomplished in Your Life? –Exodus 10:20

February 4, 2013 in 2013 Journey, Exodus, leadership, Obedience, Trust with 1 Comment

Scripture Reading:  Exodus 10:1 through Exodus 12:51

I could not help but laugh today as I read Pharaoh’s response to the locusts and the darkness.  He thought he was in charge!

But it was God who hardened his heart after each plague–God was really in charge.

God chose to work in the hearts of the Egyptians in a different way.

Now the Lord had caused the Egyptians to look favorably on the people of Israel.  And Moses was considered a very great man in the land of Egypt, respected by Pharaoh’s officials and the Egyptians alike.  –Exodus 11:3

Both of these instances were examples of God using emotions to get His will accomplished.

I wonder how many times God has “hardened my heart or someone else’s” to move me away from something or someone who wasn’t good for me.  And how many times He’s made me look better than I was to gain the favor of people He wanted in my life.

The longer I serve the Lord, the less I trust my judgment and the more I trust Him.

I know we have a part to play, but it is comforting to me to believe that if I’m in a relationship with Jesus Christ and I desire for Him to be the Lord of my life He will use my emotions to get His will accomplished.

How is God using your emotions to get His will accomplished in your life?

 

 

©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  Exodus 16:1 through 19:25

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