Psalm 3 - 7.15.24

Scripture

Psalm 3:3-6

3 But you, Lord, are a shield around me,
    my glory, the One who lifts my head high.

4 I call out to the Lord,
    and he answers me from his holy mountain.

5 I lie down and sleep;
    I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.

6 I will not fear though tens of thousands
    assail me on every side.

Observation 

This Psalm was written by David and apparently, he wrote it when he was fleeing from his own son, Absalom.

“King David's son, Absalom, had killed his brother Amnon for raping his sister Tamar. Then he led a rebellion against the king and drove him out of Jerusalem.” (John Piper on desiringgod.org)

“David complains to God of his enemies, and confides in God. (1-3) He triumphs over his fears, and gives God the glory, and takes to himself the comfort. (4-8)…David's faith became triumphant. He began the psalm with complaints of the strength and malice of his enemies; but concludes with rejoicing in the power and grace of his God, and now sees more with him than against him.” (Matthew Henry commentary on Christianity.com)

King David recognizes that God is his shield, the lifter of His head and his sustainer. As a result, he does not fear his enemies, which in this Psalm, was his own son. 

Application

Use our trials to draw us closer to the Lord, not further away. 

I’m reading this book called, “The Gospel for Disordered lives” and loved this quote in it:

“Quite often Western Christians believe that God is good because their circumstances are good. Their experiences become their authority over the Word of God. This wrong thinking may not even be recognizable until negative experiences arise to test them.” (pg. 313)

Maybe you’re not going through enemies pursuing you, just like King David was, but rather trials of a health issue with yourself or a loved one; marriage trials; a loved one passing; financial/work trials; family or other relationship issues, etc. Whatever it may be for each of us, continue to draw close to the Lord. 

Right now, we are in the 5th day of our Rooted prayer and fasting challenge. If you haven’t joined us yet, it is not too late! Continue to press into the Lord, especially when going through trials! He is the lifter of our head and sustains us with His strength. When we call out to Him, He will answer us through prayer and His Word.  “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” -Matthew 5:6

Prayer

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for being my sustainer and the lifter of my head. Thank You that no matter what circumstance is going on, You remain good and the same. I pray that I would continue to press into You through this time of prayer and fasting and that You would reveal Yourself to me. May my focus shift from my problems and circumstances to You alone. Amen. 

-Michelle Gaddi

This is my favorite worship song to listen to to shift my focus away from myself to Him: “High Above” by Parachute Band. 

https://youtu.be/ploAkX4pzGA?si=QwUnq5EMFCuF_bZW

Numbers 4 - 7.12.24

Scripture: Numbers‬ ‭4‬:‭46‬-‭47‬, ‭49‬ ‭NIV‬‬

”So Moses, Aaron and the leaders of Israel counted all the Levites by their clans and families. All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to do the work of serving and carrying the tent of meeting At the Lord’s command through Moses, each was assigned his work and told what to carry. Thus they were counted, as the Lord commanded Moses.“

‭‭ Observations:

These observations are coming from chapters 1-4 as I was impressed with how detailed God was in ordering how the Israelites traveled and then in this chapter assigning the care and traveling of the tabernacle. 

• God cares about the details and the journey. He gave each tribe a position to travel in. 

• The amount of people traveling was massive!  What a site they must have been.  How difficult to manage-hence God giving the specific order. 

• He appointed leaders of each group.  God chose them himself.  He gave Moses the names. 

• Each person had an important task. Today each of us do too.

• It took a tremendous amount of work to move from one spot to another on their journey to the promise land.  When God calls us it will take a lot of work too. 

In college I had to memorize the travel order for a test. When my friends and I were studying we sang it to the intro of Rudolf because Asher reminded me of Dasher. It worked! In fact I remembered it for years to come.  I also memorized who carried what in the tribe of the Levites by making a jingle: Kohath Furnishing, Gershon Tapestries, and Merari Hardware, which I remember to this day. 

One would ask why is this important?  Believe me we questioned the importance of know this for the test. As the memories flooded back I was impressed with how God took care of the Israelites doing all the things I’ve mentioned. 

His presence was represented here and how the tabernacle was packaged for travel was vitally important. 

The tribe of Kohath was responsible for carrying items that they were not allowed to see.  I can imagine the curiosity.  Yet, not seeing the items, saved their lives.  

• God’s holiness is to be revered and it is work to preserve it. 

What an incredible testimony of being faithful to God and following His instructions. 

Application:

When making plans I should first seek God. He has a perfect order to everything. I need to remember how much He cares about every detail!

What a perfect time, at the beginning of the Rooted Challenge to be reminded that God’s dwelling with us is not to be taken for granted. Look at all the Israelites had to go through.  

I am so thankful for Jesus paying the price for us. The curtain to the tabernacle ripped symbolizing God’s presence is available to all and we can experience His holiness when it used to be only available to select priests. Matthew 27:51

Prayer:

Father God,

Thank you for the incredible way you have created and ordered everything.  My life being one of those things. Nothing happens by chance. You even use my mistakes.  Please help me follow all the directions you give me just as Moses and the Israelites did.  At times they had to wait. Although, seeing all it required to move, waiting was easier. Please help me be willing to not just sit, but do the work. 

Thank you for your Word and the many ways you reveal yourself as I enjoy your creation and fellowship with your people. 

Amen

- Cindy Howard

Revelation 14 - 07.11.24

SCRIPTURE: Revelation 14:9-11 NLT

“Then a third angel followed them, shouting, “Anyone who worships the beast and his statue or who accepts his mark on the forehead or on the hand must drink the wine of God’s anger. It has been poured full strength into God’s cup of wrath. And they will be tormented with fire and burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb. The smoke of their torment will rise forever and ever, and they will have no relief day or night, for they have worshiped the beast and his statue and have accepted the mark of his name.””

OBSERVATION 

John saw three angels flying through the sky of heaven. 

The first angel said, “Fear God, for the time has come when HE will sit as Judge.”

Francis Chan wrote a book called “Erasing Hell”. It seems somehow our world has done a fairly good job of erasing the concept of hell.

Even among professed Christians-Pew research shows a surprising disparity regarding belief in the concept of heaven and hell and why someone might be headed for hell or not make it into heaven.

This portion of scripture brings front and center what Jesus said,

“You can enter God’s Kingdom ONLY through the narrow gate [Jesus]. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.

But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14 NLT)

APPLICATION 

Choose wisely-The consequences last an eternity.

Reading the book “A Voice in the Night” had the most profound effect on me. Pastor Sithole had come from a long line of witch doctors when one night a Voice [God] spoke to him in the most remote poverty-stricken jungles of Africa, telling him to get up and leave his village. He knew he had to follow that voice and his adventures took him so far beyond anything he ever could imagine existed to become an agent of hope and a transforming presence in a continent that was war-torn and spiritually oppressed.

One of the things I will never forget in his book, is how he so vividly describes an occurrence where God gave him a vision of hell and suddenly how the people before him became such an urgent matter to share the gospel with. He couldn’t bear to think about them suffering and burning in this unspeakable way. He was experiencing their pain.

This was a part of my drive to share the gospel.

In addition, Pastor Levi shared a stunning message on Following Jesus.

His message included an unforgettable part about believers being compared to Titanic survivors in the boats “rowing away” from ALL the drowning people. These Titanic survivors could hear the cries of those who were drowning.

““I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 

HE cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, 

while every branch that DOES bear fruit HE prunes 

so that it will be even MORE fruitful. 

Remain in me, as I also remain in you. 

No branch can bear fruit by itself; 

it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”

(John 15:1-2, 4 NIV)

PRAYER

LORD Jesus,

You saved us SO that we would be Your disciples and witnesses.

I am in a season of pruning and refining. Help me Lord to receive and learn and grow and mature. Help me to stay close to You. Have YOUR way. Thank YOU for giving me such a gift as loving people to stand with me and pray for Larry and I in this season. 

We are strengthened and deeply encouraged. 

Father, help me to not get distracted and to keep my focus to be about Your business. 

Keep this memory about “hell” front and center in my heart and etched in my mind—so that I will be sharing Your Good News every chance I get. 

Forgive me for not being more bold to share with the young man at the grocery on Sunday.

You gave us this gift of Salvation TO Share-not to selfishly “row away”.

Here I am Lord. Send me.

In Jesus Name, amen

Tina L Kudelka