Psalm 130 - 4.30.24

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm 130:5,6 “I wait for Yahweh; I wait and put my hope in His Word.  I wait for the Lord more than watchman for the morning - more than watchman for the morning.”

OBSERVATION:  The psalmist cried out from the depths of despair for God to listen to his voice, and to be attentive to the cry of his heart.  He was awaiting redemption.    "Yahweh, if You considered sins, Lord, who could stand?  But with You there is forgiveness, so that You may be revered." ("This psalm projects up ahead in God's unfolding redemption.  Though the author certainly did not understand fully what his words were pointing to, the forgiveness he wrote about was accomplished in the coming of the Messiah").  (Gene Getz).  

APPLICATION:  Like the psalmist, when I have experienced grief or sorrow, depression or guilt over sin, it can pull me down if I don't look up to God.  It can make me feel distant from Him, but EVERY time I have called out to the Lord, He has met me in my time of need with His mercy, grace, forgiveness, and redemption.  

PRAYER:  Thank You Lord that prayer has been the key that's kept us close. 

"I called on Your name Lord, from the depths of the pit, You heard my plea... You came near when I called out to You, and You said, "Do not fear."  (Lamentations 3:55,57). 

Those times I've waited for You, even when it wasn't easy, it has always been worth it because I know You are in control, and have always been faithful to use every situation to teach me what is best.  And as I continue to wait and learn, and to trust You through each and every trial that is up ahead,  I know that I don't have to fear because You are with me. "I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in His Word I put my hope".  

Like a watchman waits all through the night knowing that the morning will eventually come, I wait for You Lord. 

While I'm waiting, and because of the love and forgiveness You have shown me, I pray I will be like the psalmist by spreading the word to others that they too can experience forgiveness because of Your unfailing love and the full redemption from all their sins, which is available to all who sincerely ask. Amen

- Robin Orefice

Exodus 17 - 4.29.24

Scripture

‭Exodus‬ ‭17‬:‭10‬-‭12‬ ‭NLT

”So Joshua did what Moses had commanded and fought the army of Amalek. Meanwhile, Moses, Aaron, and Hur climbed to the top of a nearby hill. As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage. Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset.“

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Observation

While the Israelites were at a place called Rephidim, they were attacked by some warriors of Amalek. Moses then instructs Joshua to go and assemble some men to fight the warriors of Amalek. While the battle was being fought, Moses, Aaron, and Hur found a nearby hill to climb. It was on top of this hill that Moses was holding the staff of God in his hands. And whenever Moses raised the staff, the Israelites were winning the battle. But whenever Moses’ arms grew tired, and his hands began to drop, the Amalekites would start winning. Aaron and Hur noticing this, then found a stone for Moses to sit and rest on, and they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands during the battle. Needless to say, the Israelites overwhelmed the Amalekites and defeated them in battle.

Application

Teamwork makes the dream work.

Imagine if Moses, at his ripe old age, tried going out there on the battlefield that day to fight the Amalekites. 🤔 I mean, sure he had the staff of God with him, but those Amalekite warriors could have easily overpowered him and either knocked the staff out of his hands, or even straight up took the staff from him. Then what?!

But Moses, being the great leader of the Israelites that he was, knew he needed help…help from God, and help from other people. He picked a strong young man like Joshua to assemble an army of warriors to fight the Amalekites. He needed Aaron to help him speak to the people of Israel because he had a stuttering problem and hated public speaking. (I can relate with Moses on that one 😆.) And on the battlefield that day, the Israelites needed a total team effort if they were to be victorious against the Amalekites. They needed Joshua and his army to go out there and actually do the fighting. They needed Moses to go on top of that hill to raise the staff of God. And Moses needed help from Aaron and Hur to keep his hands raised until victory was given to the Israelites.

Could God have given the Israelites victory over the Amalekites that day all by Himself? Of course He could have! But more times than not, God requires a partnership/relationship in our lives in order to accomplish His mission. Not only do we need a strong partnership/relationship with Him, but we need a strong partnership/relationship with other believers if we are to fulfill God’s mission. No man is an island. We’re not meant to be like Rambo out there, facing life alone. God designed each of us for relationship and community with Himself, and with others. God has blessed each of us with our individual strengths and talents. We are to use these gifts to build one another up in the faith, to encourage and pray for one another, and to help lighten the load of ministry work for each other. It’s like the saying goes, “many hands make light work.”

So let me encourage everyone out there reading this to be part of the team…God’s team. We have a mission to Love God, Love People, Make Disciples. So if you are not part of serving in ministry at church, what are you waiting for?! Be part of something bigger than ourselves! Let’s use the gifts and talents that God has given us to come together, and have God’s will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven.

”Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.“

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭4‬:‭9‬-‭12‬

Prayer

”He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”“-Matthew‬ ‭9‬:‭37‬-‭38‬ ‭

Father God, thank You for entrusting me to partner with You on this very important mission of seeing people come to know Jesus. Forgive me for not being more purposeful about it sometimes. Thank You for the people You surround me with at DSC, people who are like-minded in fulfilling Your will. I pray for continued strength and boldness of our faith to carry on this work You have given us. But I especially pray for more workers to help join us in these mission fields. May You instill in people’s hearts who aren’t serving in ministry yet, a desire to serve You and to serve others. May we come together in harmony to accomplish the mission that You have set out for us. May we be encouraged by one another. May it help lighten the load for those who are carrying more than their share. I thank You in advance for You provision. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. 🙏🏽

-Moses Gaddi

Exodus 16 - 4.26.2024

Scripture - Pick one verse that stood out to you.

Exodus 16:35
The Israelites ate manna forty years, until they came to a land that was settled; they ate manna until they reached the border of Canaan.

Observation - What about this verse stands out to you?

I don’t think I have ever eaten the same thing over and over again for forty days let alone forty years. Even my most favorite foods come close to losing their title of ‘favorite’ when eaten over and over again. But perhaps satisfying Israel’s taste buds at the time of Exodus 16 was low on God’s lists of priorities. As God delivers justice to His people’s cries for it in Luke 18, our Lord Jesus asks,, “However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” 

My parents provided for me, cared for me, and loved me, but it still took so long, too long, for me to develop a genuine gratefulness and caring for them that went beyond the obligatory “I love you mom” and “I love you dad” statements.  My shortcomings and selfishness were simply overshadowed by their love for me.

And that’s why I identify with the Israelites in exodus 16. While my brain says I would have done so much better had I personally experienced all of those miracles, remembering my childhood and all the various terrible perspectives I’ve had in my life tells me otherwise. As the Israelites had been delivered from slavery, experienced God's miracles, and spent time with God’s literal presence, they were still lacking belief/faith/love. And I am not sure I would have been any different had I been in that camp as a younger less mature version of myself.

Application - How will you apply this to your life?

Lord, what set Joshua and Caleb apart from the rest of their generation? Why were they so quick to have faith in you when everyone else would not? How can I build my faith in you today, Lord? Please show me?

Prayer - Write out a prayer.

Lord, I don’t want to spend the rest of my days grumbling over something that is low priority. Help my spirit to see what the greater goal is. Help me not to be so blind that I miss all the miracles you have sent my way. As the Israelites got to spend all that time in your presence and completely missed it, may I, may my family, may we all not spend our lives that way, like petulant children who spend a lifetime blindly observing miracles, only to have eternity pass us by. Wake me up, please Holy Spirit. Help me to see! Help me to build my faith, please oh Lord! In the name of Jesus do I pray. Amen.

-kenneth lee