Numbers 1 & 2: Judah and the Eastern Side

Numbers 1:26-27
Amplified Bible (AMP)

“Of the sons of Judah, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, all able to go to war: Those of the tribe of Judah numbered 74,600.”

Many years ago, Jacob (Israel) blessed his sons. His blessing upon Judah was that he would be praised by his brothers. (Genesis 49:8)

The Tribe of Judah also has the greatest number of males twenty years of age and upward, all able to go to war. God desires us to war with praise!

Also, the placement of the Tribe of Judah within the camp of the Israelites is on the east side toward the sunrise. Judah is blessed to positioned to see the sunrise (son rise). Also, think about the star announcing the birth of Jesus.

Matthew 2:2

“Where is He Who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east at its rising and have come to worship Him.”

The most awesome aspect about the eastern direction is that’s where Jesus will be when He returns.

Matthew 24:27

"For just as the lightning flashes from the east and shines and is seen as far as the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be."

I love it when His Spirit takes one part of one verses and ties it into various parts of the Bible!

BTW. I live on the eastern side of the Susquehanna River. 

Leviticus 26 & 27: Thankful for Mercy and Grace

Leviticus 26:8
Amplified Bible (AMP)

“Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight; your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.”

This well-known warrior verse only applies if a person has obeyed the voice of the Lord. I find Chapter 26 to be sobering. I know I love God, and He knows I love Him. Yet, I still choose wrongly at times. I’m not perfected, yet. There will come a day, when I meet Jesus face to face. In that day, He will give me an incorruptible body- one impervious to disease, to temptation, to imperfection. In the meantime, I place myself at the feet of Jesus, knowing that He alone makes me acceptable (mercy). His Spirit poured out in me and through me strengthens me to make the right choice the next time (grace).

Leviticus 24 & 25: Keep Me Burning

My friend, Classic Mamma wrote, “Worship is anything that reminds the flesh that the spirit is in control.” Great truth!!!!

I was drawn to Leviticus 24: 2, specifically the second part of it, “…to make a lamp burn continually.”

I am remembering a song I sang as a child.  I referenced it in the previous post, "Shine in the Night," but I feel the lyrics and song are worth repeating as a reminder for us all to burn continually!

Give me oil in my lamp keep me burning.
Give me oil in my lamp I pray.
Give me oil in my lamp keep me burning.
Keep me burning till the break of day.

Sing, Hosanna.
Sing, Hosanna.
Sing, Hosanna to the King of Kings.

Sing, Hosanna.
Sing, Hosanna.
Sing, Hosanna to the King.

I didn’t have a clue how powerful these declarative lyrics were at the time I sang them. Could it be that years later as I seek after the filling of His Oil (Holy Spirit) for my lamp (my being) that I am seeing the power of my childhood words fulfilled?

Give me oil in my lamp, Lord. I want to shine brightly for You through the night and day for all of my days!!!! AMEN!!!

Leviticus 22 & 23: Conform Your Life to Me

This song touches my heart in a very personal way. Several years ago during a conference at CCC while kneeling at the altar, Jesus was ministering deeply to me. The morning session had ended and all were dismissed for lunch, but I heard Jesus ask me to stay and have a wine lunch with Him. The lunch break became an intimate time between Jesus and me. I had a visual experience of Jesus on the floor with me offering a cup of wine to me, and as He held it up to my lips, I drank. Words can’t describe the beauty of the experience. Needless to say, I was a little drunk after the encounter. If you know what I mean.
Leviticus 22:31
Amplified Bible (AMP)

“So shall you heartily accept My commandments and conform your life and conduct to them. I am the Lord."

I’m very thankful, that Jesus paid the price for me! I don’t need to go through all the ritual sacrifices mentioned in this book. But, I do believe there is one sacrifice that I am continually commanded to offer the Lord…my flesh. As the fire of His Spirit descends upon this offering it is burned up, a sweet smell for the Lord. This isn’t a way to attain salvation (Jesus did that), but a way to demonstrate my love for Him, my devotion to Him.

Leviticus 19-21: Curses and Stumbling Blocks

Leviticus 19:14
Amplified Bible (AMP)

“You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall [reverently] fear your God. I am the Lord.”

This verse popped out at me. I thought, wow, that really would be a mean thing to do. Can you imagine cursing a person who can’t hear and therefore, can’t protect himself or purposely placing an object before a blind person causing him to trip?

But rarely does the Word of God just speak of surface level concepts. Going deeper on a spiritual level look at this verse. All of us Christians, even though saved an set free, have areas of spiritual deafness and blind spots.

Could it be that the Lord is commanding us not to “curse” a brother or sister in Christ who isn’t hearing Him well on a particular subject or “test” the spiritual vision of another in Christ in an area where maturity has not blossomed, therefore causing that person to stumble?

I think our Father desires that we always speak blessing and remove any obstacles in the path of our brothers and sisters.  Don't you?

Leviticus 16-18: Azazel

Leviticus 16:8-10

Amplified Bible (AMP)


⁸Aaron shall cast lots on the two goats--one lot for the Lord, the other lot for Azazel or removal.


⁹And Aaron shall bring the goat on which the Lord's lot fell and offer him as a sin offering.


¹⁰But the goat on which the lot fell for Azazel or removal shall be presented alive before the Lord to make atonement over him, that he may be let go into the wilderness for Azazel (for dismissal).

Azazel, the goat that “carries away” the sins of the Israelites into the wilderness never to be seen again; their sins are dismissed. I heard a teaching on Azazel years ago and was interested, not only because of the parallel to Jesus, but because our modern term “scapegoat” derives from it.

As Christians, we should never place blame on others for our sin. We shouldn’t even blame the evil one. We need to “man up” (sorry ladies) and take responsibility for our own sins and not blame shift, in effect, making another person our scapegoat.

Jesus, is the only One worthy to carry our sins away into the wilderness of forgetfulness, to make atonement for us. Jesus is our Holy Scapegoat, and I love Him for it.

Leviticus 14 &15: Treat All With Love and Respect

There is no doubt that disease often is caused by direct or indirect sin, in the example cited *leprosy being one as a punishment for sin. However, think about AIDS transmission and consider the innocent unborn who contracted the disease from their mother who was infected with HIV unknowingly by her unfaithful husband. Each of these people have been exposed to the disease, but not all have sin in their lives. Whether directly or indirectly, sin is to blame and the author of sin is satan.

Then consider the environmental causes of disease. **Mesothelioma is a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. ***Pesticides and hormones in our food stimulate the formation of breast and other cancers. Radiation and drug exposure can cause genetic damage causing the formation of cancer in the exposed person or their progeny.

However, the Bible is filled with examples of disease caused by sin and God using sin as a punishment. Think about King Saul who was tormented by an evil spirit sent by God (1 Samuel 16:14) or Ananias with his wife Sapphira, who lied about their monetary gain and were struck dead on the spot (Acts 5:1-11).

Years ago, I remember having a conversation with a dear friend about cancer. We both agreed that God is more interested in our eternal life then our temporal life, and if contracting cancer would save one’s soul for eternity, God would allow cancer in that person.

But as Christians, we need to be careful about our attitude towards a person who has a disease, assuming it means the person is in sin. We need to remember each of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:22-24). All of us have the potential to develop a disease as a result of sin. It is why Jesus came to rescue us, and why I love Him so much. And why we need to treat others with love and respect whether or not sin is involved.

Matthew 22

37And He replied to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (intellect).

38This is the great (most important, principal) and first commandment.

39And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself.

40These two commandments [f]sum up and upon them depend all the Law and the Prophets.

*http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002323/

**http://www.mesothelioma.com/

***http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/causes

Leviticus 11-13: My Vessel For You

Leviticus 11:33

Amplified Bible (AMP)

33 “And every earthen vessel into which any of these [creeping things] falls, whatever may be in it shall be unclean, and you shall break the vessel.”

Creeping things represent sin and our hearts are like the vessel. If a creeping thing (sin) contaminates the vessel (our hearts), the vessel must be broken. I think about how affiliation with sin damages us and eventually ends up breaking our souls.  

BUT, even if we fall to sin and end up with a broken heart, Jesus is right there ready and very willing to pick up the shattered pieces and reform it.  He is the Master Potter!

My Heart Beats For You

My heart beats for You, my Jesus!

You have poured out Your love into the depths of my soul!

Fractured into thousands of pieces was how You found it.

Pain held there by the shattering consequences of sin.

Its story told to You.

Each piece crying, longing for comfort, healing and wholeness.

Heaviness, heaviness, heaviness blanketing soul's shattering.

Bowing down a head, looking to earth's ground in shame.

Yet, You lovingly handled each piece, fractured.

Your touch smoothed and soothed rough edges.

As a Master Craftsman,
You fitted and formed each one together.

Repairing and restoring them into
A beautiful piece of fine china,

You left nothing similar to the vessel found before.

Each piece shining,

No seams, no scars to mar the beauty of
The Potter's workmanship.

The completed work still to be unfolded for all to see,

Yet, the glory of the Master Potter
Shining brightly in the forming,

Each day brighter, reflecting His glory,

A testimony to His miraculous repair.

Oh, soul's Lover, You my Master shine!

The fire bursting forth from those beautiful eyes,

Burns away each impurity embedded in the porcelain white.

Each day purer, whiter, cleaner,

The piece cleansed by the Master's lifeblood.

Shining, shining, shining with His glory.

Oh, how I love You, My soul's Delight.

You have healed me
And caused me to be filled with the joy of Your love.

How I adore You, my Master, my Lover!

Praise, praise, praise You all of my life.
All will hear praises from my lips,

My voice singing into the heavenlies.

All creation hears my praise...

Freedom has been purchased.

Freedom has been given.

Freedom birthed.

Dancing, dancing, dancing for You, my Jesus!

Your pleasure empowers me.

All of my being will praise You.

You deserve nothing less than All I have!

I give You- me, the china piece forming brighter every day.

Head lifted to You, eyes gazing heavenward,
Seeking for the One I love.

My heart beats for You, my Jesus!

You have poured out Your love into the depths of my soul!

Beautiful Grace 7/1/2004

Fortieth Birthday

Levticus 8-10: SOBERING

Leviticus 10:1 “AND NADAB and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, and put incense on it, and offered strange and unholy fire before the Lord, as He had not commanded them.”

2 “And there came forth fire from before the Lord and killed them, and they died before the Lord.”

3 “Then Moses said to Aaron, This is what the Lord meant when He said, I [a][and My will, not their own] will be acknowledged as hallowed by those who come near Me, and before all the people I will be honored. And Aaron said nothing.”

SOBERING! Makes me wonder exactly what they were doing (or not doing).

Lord, please teach me how to acknowledge and hallow You as You desire.  In Jesus name, AMEN!!!

Leviticus 5-7: Love IS More Powerful than Evil

Leviticus 5:3
Amplified Bible (AMP)

“Or if he touches human uncleanness, of whatever kind the uncleanness may be with which he becomes defiled, and he is unaware of it, when he does know it, then he shall be guilty.”

God provided Moses with the “does and don’ts" of sacrifice, and I believe most of the commands given by God were given for health and sanitation purposes. The Israelites didn’t have penicillin laying around to treat infections that could develop from unsanitary living.

Jesus came, in part, to do away with these necessary ritual laws, but today, do we still hold fast to the things Jesus has abolished by His own perfect sacrifice, like not touching a person we deem as unclean?

I have seen this Old Testament command twisted and played out before my eyes. Christians, empowered by God’s Spirit, fear that somehow the uncleanness (sin) of another person will contaminate them. I used to be one of those Christians who was deceived in to thinking that way.

Until one day, the Holy Spirit showed me how a lady (who most probably had schizophrenia), was treated by other Christians. Don’t get me wrong, there was an evil spirit involved…any disease whether psychological or physical comes from satan. But then I thought about the compassion of Jesus. He wasn’t afraid to touch those afflicted with His loving hand. In that moment, compassion welled up inside of me for this poor woman and instead of fear’s voice whispering, “If you touch her, you’ll get her demon,” I heard, “Love is more powerful than evil.” I put my arm around this lady to comfort her. She needed someone to show her the love of God, and I needed to break the power of fear in my life! I took a step in the path of my destiny that day. Little did I know that my future employment would be in a psychiatric hospital. 

No matter how great the evil, LOVE is more powerful!!!!

Leviticus 1-4: The Spirit of the Lord is Upon Me

Leviticus 2:14 

“If you offer a cereal offering of your firstfruits to the Lord, you shall offer for it of your firstfruits grain in the ear parched with fire, bruised and crushed grain out of the fresh and fruitful ear.”


“Bruised and crushed,” I thought about Jesus with those two words. Jesus, by His own bruising (Isaiah 53:5) and crushing has come to save those who are bruised and crushed.


Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon Me, because He has anointed Me [the Anointed One, the Messiah] to preach the good news (the Gospel) to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed [who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity],…”


Isaiah 61:1 “THE SPIRIT of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound,…”


Even as a little girl, my heart was drawn towards those bruised and crushed. As an adult, I am blessed to be able to speak into young lives that are broken. God's Spirit is upon me!

God's Spirit is upon us in order to preach, bind up, heal, and deliver. The world will know Jesus because we follow His command to release the captives!

More of Your Spirit upon us, Lord. For the glory of One. AMEN!!!

Exodus 39 & 40: Wherever the Cloud Stays

Exodus 40: 36 “Throughout all their journeys when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the sons of Israel would set out;37 but if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out until the day when it was taken up.38 For throughout all their journeys, the cloud of the LORD was on the tabernacle by day, and there was fire in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel.”


I have been in places and situations where I longed to run away, but God did not give me the command to leave, in effect, His “cloud” was not taken up and away from that situation, from that place.


In the past, I have been the kind of person to run away from the battle, from unkind and mean and judging people, BUT God has another kind of person in mind for me- a kind of person who stands firm when all appears to fall, a kind of person who allows God’s spirit to war through my vessel knowing it’s all Him and none of me, a person who chooses to forgive even though insults and assaults still come through those who should know better.


No, I will not run, and I will not hide!!! I will stay where He has commanded for as long as He says, no matter how the battle may rage!


Holy Spirit empower this vessel for Your service. I am VICTORIOUS in the name of Jesus, AMEN!!!!

Exodus 36-38: Master Carpenter Artist

Bezalel was a master carpenter artist who worked on the sanctuary, the dwelling place for God. I know another Man who has that profession. Jesus is the Ultimate Master Carpenter Artist Who works on us, the dwelling place of God.

I just love the parallels in the Bible!!! 

Exodus 33-35: His Presence Gives Rest

Exodus 33:13 “Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You [progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with You, perceiving and recognizing and understanding more strongly and clearly] and that I may find favor in Your sight. And [Lord, do] consider that this nation is Your people.”

Exodus 33:14 “And the Lord said, My Presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Exodus 33:13, is my heart’s cry…to find favor in His sight, to know His ways, to know Him more deeply and intimately. 

I have even asked to know Him the way He knows me, not sure if an earthly body could handle that one though.

I love verse 14; God’s promise gives me comfort and in that comfort, I am at rest!  Recently, I have been sensing God's Presence in my face.  Kind of awesome when you think about being "face to face" with the God of the Universe!  He is with me wherever I go, has a whole new meaning!  Yet, even in experiencing that intimate position with the Lord, I have at times been unsettled by my surroundings.  

I sensed a very distinct shift from the end of 2011 to the beginning of 2012.  For the majority of 2011, there was so much peace...amazingly miraculous when considering the health issues I had been experiencing.  Yet, no matter what my emotions say, God has promised His Presence shall go with me, and He will give me rest.  Don't misunderstand, I'm not upset about anything in particular.  This year just feels different, more unsettled than last year.

Lord, I so appreciate how You love me and allow me to feel Your Presence with me!  I grab hold of all Your promises of rest and peace.  Your Word is true, whether or not I "feel" it. Thank You for moving through me.  I am humbled that You have chosen me.  

Exodus 30-32: Violence Against Sin, Not People

Exodus 32:27 “And he said to them, Thus says the Lord God of Israel, Every man put his sword on his side and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbor.”

Exodus 32:28 “And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses; and there fell of the people that day about 3000 men.”

Exodus 32:29 “And Moses said [to the Levites, By your obedience to God's command] you have consecrated yourselves today [as priests] to the Lord, each man [at the cost of being] against his own son and his own brother, that the Lord may restore and bestow His blessing upon you this day.”

Wow, this commandment is severe! Idolatry is serious! Although we don’t go around killing our companions and brothers today, these verses do paint a picture of how God wants us to deal with sin. He expects that we be violent in the Spirit against sin, which separates us from Him. Violent against the sin and not the people.

A particular form of idolatry is the fear of man, something that I had struggled with for most of my life.  The Lord told me many years ago that when the fear of man causes me to modify Who He wants me to be or what He wants me to do that I, in effect, put man on a pedestal lifting him higher than God.  That, my friends, is idolatry!!!  

I am thankful that much of the fear of man has been broken in my life. I still feel the emotion of what man thinks at times, but I can't remember the last time I modified myself because of it.  Yeah, Jesus!!!


Thank You, Lord, for Your deliverance from sin!  Thanks for loving me enough to walk beside me, telling me my faults and errors because of that love.  You are my Best Friend!

Exodus 28-29: A Heaven Question

The whole of Exodus 28, describes just how extravagantly God desires to dress those who minister to Him. Blue, purple, and scarlet stuff, gold carvings, silk, turbans, and embroidery. Sounds like God doesn’t mind if we get a little fancy.

But, what I find even more extravagant in Exodus 29, is the details of Aaron and his sons’ consecration…sacrificial blood placed on the tips of right ear, thumbs of right hands and great right toes.

I find it interesting that both of these chapters are talking about externals, and neither mention the priests’ heart motives or attitudes. This is one of my “Heaven questions” for Jesus.

As fun as it is to dress up (I like to be a girly girl), the robe of righteousness Jesus provides for me to wear is much more beautiful, because it is the reason I can come to the Father; Jesus is the reason I can come to the Father.

I don’t need blood smeared on various parts of my body to be set apart for service. Jesus has already done that on my behalf.

I am grateful!!!