Numbers 1-9

Numbers

Numbers 1-9

Numbers 6:24-27

²⁴ God bless you and keep you,
²⁵ God smile on you and gift you,
²⁶ God look you full in the face
      and make you prosper.
²⁷ In so doing, they will place my name on the People of Israel—
   I will confirm it by blessing them."

It’s very easy for us to look at other churches as competition…  In a sense we are competing, but not against each other. We are competing with each other, NOT against!  Ultimately competing with each other means we are the same team.  Denominational differences aside, we can accomplish more if we quit bashing the efforts of our fellow Christians of other churches and look for ways to partner with our different ministries to make a greater impact for the Kingdom! 

Instead we let pride, envy, and jealousy invade and divide the body of Christ to the point that we stand in our pulpits and denounce what others are doing for God.  Which takes me back to when I was a child momma always told me, “if you did not have anything nice to say, don’t say anything!”
Part of knowing God is being able to see where He is working and join Him.  It's not your ministry!  It’s HIS ministry…  It’s not your church it’s HIS church…  So why do we act like we are above working alongside another believer if they have a worship band and you sing hymns…? 

Here is a bold statement!  Let’s stop discrediting what God is doing in other churches and start blessing what they are doing if it is helping grow the kingdom of God…   Here is a bolder statement…  SHUT UP and GET INVOLVED if you see God working!  Do more partnering and less pioneering!  Above all let’s speak blessings instead of curses.  Why? It shows a unified body and by doing this we are making His name great among non believers!  Isn’t that what our goal should be to do in the first place!  Let’s not try to throw water on what God is doing unless it’s in the baptismal!

Genesis 32

Day 25

Genesis 32

Genesis 32:24-26
²⁴ So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. ²⁵ When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. ²⁶ Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

Whether or not Jacob wrestled with God or one of God’s angels, this is still a great passage!  I have never been a wrestler, but the parallel of this to my own life is scary.  I know God has called me to be a part of a church plant that is going to reach a lot of people who are far away from HIM.  I know God has called me to be a family pastor because he put a burden on my heart for the family. 

So here I am with this calling and what now?  Was I mistaken?  Did I not hear HIM right?  At times I have felt like I could see the light at the end of the tunnel and at other times I have felt like I had lost all hope…  Yet here I am…  Where is here?  Don’t know yet…  Where are you going?  Not sure…. 

Have you ever felt that way?  It’s when your vision for your life does not match your current position in life.  Pastor Steven Furtick said it best when he spoke about be prepared for the wedding.  He young man wearing a tux stops to get gas for his trip.  While pumping gas at a Texaco, he notices he is getting weird looks from people.   He feels like he needs to explain to the people that he is on his way to a wedding.  He feels overdressed and out of place…

That was when I realized - I am that guy pumping gas, I should feel out of place, and I am on my way to a where HE has called me… I’m on my way.  At this time in my life I am just passing through.  I’ve got a destination and I am determined to get there... 

You may feel like Jacob and you’re wrestling with what God has called you to do. 

·         Maybe God has called you to get your family out of debt. 

·         Maybe God has called you to be a fulltime mom and give up that second income

Whatever it is…  There is one thing I think Jacob would tell you and I agree with him.  DON’T LET GO!  When it seems like your spinning your wheels DON’T LET GO!  When that unexpected bill comes in?  DON’T LET GO!  When everyone looks at you like you are WEIRD and CRAZY – DON’T LET GO!

Don’t let go of the vision God has given you for your life!  Will it be hard?  Absolutely!  Will it be rewarding…?  It will be beyond your wildest dreams…  Will you have to wrestle strangers by campfire in the night…???  I’ll get back to you on that one, but if you do…  Don’t let go, His blessing waits!

Genesis 27

Day 21

Genesis 27

Genesis 27:11-12
¹¹ Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “But my brother Esau is a hairy man while I have smooth skin. ¹² What if my father touches me? I would appear to be tricking him and would bring down a curse on myself rather than a blessing.”

"I would appear to be tricking him,"... SERIOUSLY  - That's candy coating it a bit don't you think!  Your swindling your brother and straight up lying to your pops...  Granted his brother Esau did not value his birthright, he still wanted the blessing that came with it.

We want to receive God's blessing, but our choices would reveal otherwise. That so reminds me of the foulest 3 letter word in the dictionary.

I want God to bless my health, BUT - I just can't stop shoveling unhealthy crap in my mouth.  Sometimes I even have the audacity to pray to God; "Lord bless this Big Mac to the nurishment of my body. -AMEN!..."

I want God to bless my marriage, BUT - I won't stop looking at porn... Guys - Your wife loves you...  That porn star does not know you exist...   

I want God to bless my finances, BUT - I just won't spend less than I earn...

I want God to bless my life, BUT - I just wont trust him with one dollar out of every ten...

I want God to bless my ___________, BUT - ___________________...

EVERYDAY we have a choice set before us...  BLESSING or CURSE...  Our decisions will determine our direction and our direction will ultimately determine our destination!  Is your BUT keeping you from your Blessing?