Numbers 18, 19 and 20: Cry Out to Jesus

Numbers 20:4
Amplified Bible (AMP)

“And why have you brought up the congregation of the Lord into this wilderness, that we should die here, we and our livestock?”

One of the characteristics of a wilderness as described by our government is that it “is hereby recognized as an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain” from the Federal Land Policy and Management Act. (Utah Wilderness Survey)

Although the Israelites felt as though they would never escape the hardships of the wilderness, they were destined one day to leave it and enter into the Promised Land. They were visitors to a land “untrammeled by man.”

Apparently water and food are lacking in a wilderness, because those items were the topic of much dissension among the Israelites causing them to grumble and complain about what they didn’t have.

Those in a spiritual wilderness often feel alone because they find themselves in an area untrammeled by man which is lacking in food (His Word) and water (His Spirit). Just as the physical body would die without the essential food and water, the spiritual body eventually will as well. Yet, God sends all of us into the wilderness at times. I believe one of the purposes of the wilderness is to kill the flesh or the worldly ungodly thoughts and actions that have piled up inside us.

What’s awesome though is if we cry out to God in the wilderness He will come and minister to us. I had a wilderness experience several years ago, and it was in that difficult place that Jesus spoke the clearest, and moved the most powerfully in me. It was the place where Jesus Himself became my Lifeline. This place is where I learned to love and trust Him on a deeper level.

Hosea 2:14
“Therefore, behold, I will allure her [Israel] and bring her into the wilderness, and I will speak tenderly and to her heart.”

Looking back on that time now, I do remember the pain of aloneness and feeling as though I would die, BUT I am thankful for the relationship that was build between Jesus and me there.

If anyone of you reading this finds themselves trapped in the wilderness, cry out to Jesus. I promise you that it is all worth it.

Mac Powell (Third Day) - Films and Music Inspired by THE STORY "When Lov...

A great portrayal of my Jesus!  Always motivated by love!!!

Numbers 16 and 17: Examples of Intercession

Numbers 16: Examples of Intercession

Example 1: The emotional response of an intercessor must be guided by humility. Moses, falling on his face, indicates humility in that he goes low rather than to stand up and fight.

Numbers 16:4 & 5

“And they gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, [Enough of you!] You take too much upon yourselves, seeing that all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you lift yourselves up above the assembly of the Lord?”

“And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face.”

Example 2: An intercessor reminds us of our gifts and calling, encouraging us to be thankful, not covet the gifts, talents or power of another.

Numbers 16:9 & 10

“Does it seem but a small thing to you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the Lord and to stand before the congregation to minister to them,

And that He has brought you near to Him, and all your brethren the sons of Levi with you? Would you seek the priesthood also?”

Example 3: An intercessor may become emotionally stirred by circumstances, but those emotions are taken directly to God, not spread about through bitter words or backbiting.

Numbers 16:15

“And Moses was very angry and said to the Lord, Do not respect their offering! I have not taken one donkey from them, nor have I hurt one of them.”

Example 4: An intercessor petitions God for mercy, even if the offenders have injured him in some way.

Numbers 16:20-22

“And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron,

Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.

And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin and will You be angry with all the congregation?”

Example 5: An intercessor warns the people to depart from the sins of another, or else they will share in the punishment for those sins.

Numbers 16:26

“And he said to the congregation, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest you be consumed in all their sins.”

Example 6: An intercessor places himself between life and death, even at the cost of his personal safety.

Numbers 16:47 & 48

“So Aaron took the burning censer as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and behold, the plague was begun among the people; and he put on the incense and made atonement for the people.

And he stood between the dead and the living, and the plague was stayed.”

Numbers 14, 15 and Psalm 90: This Life is Short, Give Me Wisdom

Psalm 90:12
Amplified Bible (AMP)

“So teach us to number our days, that we may get us a heart of wisdom.”

When we truly get the revelation of our mortality, that our days are numbered, that our lives are as brief as the grass that grows up in the morning and withers in the evening (Psalm 90:5 & 6), then we will cease worrying about the transient aspects of this life and start seeking after eternal things like a heart of wisdom.

Two of the kindest trials the Lord has allowed me to walk through have been brain surgery and cancer.

I was 23 years old when I was diagnosed with an aneurysm-like malformation in my brain’s left frontal cortex. Most 23 year olds are not acquainted with life threatening surgeries. Most young adults are thinking about marriage, children, and careers- certainly not the brevity of life. Yet, in allowing me to walk through this trial, God drew me to Him. I had a revelation of how short life really is and how important it is to live life with purpose and passion.

Two days after Christmas 2010, I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and I praise God for the good He has brought from it. For many years, the fear of man controlled my emotions. The Lord used this attack from the evil one, cancer, to break much fear off of me. When someone is unkind or judging, instead of my heart being filled with hurt, my heart now sees the offender’s hurt. I am more convinced now than ever of His great love for me and that has made all the difference in how I live my days.

I have not arrived, by any means, but I feel like I’ve been catapulted past some of these sticking points. I praise my Jesus Who has never left me or forsaken me!!! Thank You, Lord, for ever increasing waves of freedom. I Love You, Jesus!!!

Numbers 11-13: Four Lessons Learned

Numbers 11:4

Amplified Bible (AMP)

“And the mixed multitude among them [the rabble who followed Israel from Egypt] began to lust greatly [for familiar and dainty food], and the Israelites wept again and said, Who will give us meat to eat?”

“The mixed multitude – The word in the original resembles our “riff-raff,” and denotes a mob of people scraped together. It refers here to the multitude of strangers (see Exodus 12:38) who had followed the Israelites from Egypt.” (from Biblos.com)

Lesson 1: We must guard our hearts from those who would grumble and complain. If we allow ourselves to be drawn into this negative heart attitude, we will be disciplined by the Lord.

Numbers 11:23
Amplified Bible (AMP)

“The Lord said to Moses, Has the Lord’s hand (His ability and power) become short (thwarted and inadequate)? You shall see now whether My word shall come to pass for you or not.”

Lesson 2: We may find ourselves in horrifically difficult circumstances, but the Lord’s hand is NEVER shortened. His power is more than enough to meet our needs and solve our circumstances.

Numbers 11:29
Amplified Bible (AMP)

“But Moses said to him, Are you [a]envious or jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!”

Lesson 3: Moses is a humble leader. He is not intimidated when God chose to speak through others.

Numbers 11:34
Amplified Bible (AMP)

“That place was called Kibroth-hattaavah [the graves of sensuous desire], because there they buried the people who lusted, whose physical appetite caused them to sin.”

Lesson 4: Walking in the flesh may result in death. Lord, thank You for Your mercy; please empower us to always walk in Your Spirit.

Numbers 8-10: Like a Levite

I heard a teaching by Perry Stone several years ago regarding the blowing of the horn (the shofar), that its sound to the evil one is indistinguishable from the voice of God. I have been in gatherings where the shofar is played and I could feel shock waves in the spiritual realm. The link below gives more information on the shofar.

http://www.delusionresistance.org/christian/shofar.html

Numbers 8:14
Amplified Bible (AMP)

“Thus you shall separate the Levites from among the Israelites, and the Levites shall be Mine [in a very special sense].”

As far as I know, I do not have a Jewish ancestry, but in the Spirit, I feel like God has said that I am a Levite, one who is set apart and separated to God for His service. Really, all of His kids are separated to Him. It’s just will all of His kids heed the call?

Numbers 8:25-26
Amplified Bible (AMP)

“And at the age of fifty years, they shall retire from the warfare of the service and serve no more,

But shall help their brethren in the Tent of Meeting [attend to protecting the sacred things from being profaned], but shall do no regular or heavy service. Thus shall you direct the Levites in regard to their duties.”

I’m 47 years old. Does this mean in three years I will be retired from warfare? 

Thank You!

Dear Friends,


The procedure went well!  Stitches will be removed in 11 days.  I'm not allowed to run for a week, BUT I am allowed to take walks.  :)


Thanks for praying.  :)


Love Always...
Beautiful Grace

Numbers 7: What's in a Name?

In reading Numbers 7, I think it’s interesting to replace the name of the ancestral leader with the blessing bestowed upon them by their father, Jacob (Israel). The progression is an interesting one when considering the sequence of offerings according to the houses’ blessings.

1st Judah = Praise

2nd Issachar = Prophetic Servant

3rd Zeblulan = Haven

4th Reuben = Dignity and Power

5th Simeon = Perseverance

6th Gad = Victory

7th Ephraim = Blessed One

8th Manasseh = Great People

9th Benjamin= Hungry Warrior

10th Dan = Judge

11th Asher = Richness

12th Naphtali = Lovliness

You may notice Joseph, the favorite son of Jacob, is missing. Joseph’s two sons are present in his absence, because Jacob had adopted them as his own sons, thus giving Joseph a double portion through them.

Also, Levi is missing from the list, because the Levites ministry is to God; He is their portion.

Lord, grant me all the above characteristics as I bring my offering to You, which is the whole of my life! In the name of Jesus, AMEN!!!

Last Procedure Prayer

Dear Friends,


Tomorrow  morning, I will have the final reconstructive procedure completed in my plastic surgeon's office.  I am thankful that this season of tests, procedures, surgeries, and hospitalizations is coming to a close, and  I am looking forward to the next season the Lord has planned for me.  Although, I obviously didn't enjoy the physical trials of the last season, I do look back on it with gratitude.  The Lord, once again, proved Himself as my Protector, Shepherd, Prince of Peace, Empowerer, and Provider.  My resolve to cling to the Lord in all circumstances has only deepened because of this previous season!


Please Pray:

• Although this procedure is done within the office without general anesthesia, there still remains the possibility of infection, therefore please pray for protection against it.

• Please pray for continued wisdom regarding future testing.  I am walking outside of the box as I feel the Lord leading.  I need to hear Him clearly always. 

• That my physical body would continue to prosper as He is prospering my soul.

• That love would be the base of all that I do, continually.

Many of you already know this, but I ran my 2nd 5K race on March 4th and ran faster than my 1st race. :)  Christian has been encouraging me for years to compete in a sprint triathlon with him.  I now believe I may have a chance to go for it.  I am still in the process of deciding, but am making headway.  I tell you this, because of your prayers.  Of all the physical adjustments the Lord has done in me last year, empowering me to become an "athlete" is the most amazing to me.  I feel His pleasure when I run, and I actually look forword to it now. 


You are valuable, and I count it an honor to know every one of you!!!

With Much Love Always...
Beautiful Grace :)

Numbers 5 & 6: Trust, Without Understanding

Numbers 5:11-31

Amplified Bible (AMP)

¹¹And the Lord said to Moses,¹²Say to the Israelites, If any man's wife goes astray and commits an offense of guilt against him,
¹³And a man lies with her carnally, and it is hidden from the eyes of her husband and it is kept secret though she is defiled, and there is no witness against her nor was she taken in the act,
¹⁴And if the spirit of jealousy comes upon him and he is jealous and suspicious of his wife who has defiled herself--or if the spirit of jealousy comes upon him and he is jealous and suspicious of his wife though she has not defiled herself--
¹⁵Then shall the man bring his wife to the priest, and he shall bring the offering required of her, a tenth of an ephah of barley meal; but he shall pour no oil upon it nor put frankincense on it [symbols of favor and joy], for it is a cereal offering of jealousy and suspicion, a memorial offering bringing iniquity to remembrance.
¹⁶And the priest shall bring her near and set her before the Lord.
¹⁷And the priest shall take holy water [probably from the sacred laver] in an earthen vessel and take some of the dust that is on the floor of the tabernacle and put it in the water.
¹⁸And the priest shall set the woman before the Lord, and let the hair of the woman's head hang loose, and put the meal offering of remembrance in her hands, which is the jealousy and suspicion offering. And the priest shall have in his hand the water of bitterness that brings the curse.
¹⁹Then the priest shall make her take an oath, and say to the woman, If no man has lain with you and if you have not gone astray to uncleanness with another instead of your husband, then be free from any effect of this water of bitterness which brings the curse.
²⁰But if you have gone astray and you are defiled, some man having lain with you beside your husband,
²¹Then the priest shall make the woman take the oath of the curse, and say to the woman, The Lord make you a curse and an oath among your people when the Lord makes your thigh fall away and your body swell.
²²May this water that brings the curse go into your bowels and make your body swell and your thigh fall away. And the woman shall say, So let it be, so let it be.
²³The priest shall then write these curses in a book and shall wash them off into the water of bitterness;
²⁴And he shall cause the woman to drink the water of bitterness that brings the curse, and the water that brings the curse shall enter into her [to try her] bitterly.
²⁵Then the priest shall take the cereal offering of jealousy and suspicion out of the woman's hand and shall wave the offering before the Lord and offer it upon the altar.
²⁶And the priest shall take a handful of the cereal offering as the memorial portion of it and burn it on the altar, and afterward shall cause the woman to drink the water.
²⁷And when he has made her drink the water, then if she is defiled and has committed a trespass against her husband, the curse water which she drank shall be bitterness and cause her body to swell and her thigh to fall away, and the woman shall be a curse among her people.
²⁸But if the woman is not defiled and is clean, then she shall be free [from the curse] and be able to have children.
²⁹This is the law of jealousy and suspicion when a wife goes aside to another instead of her husband and is defiled,
³⁰Or when the spirit of jealousy and suspicion comes upon a man and he is jealous and suspicious of his wife; then shall he set the woman before the Lord, and the priest shall execute on her all this law.
³¹The [husband] shall be free from iniquity and guilt, and that woman [if guilty] shall bear her iniquity.

I have a note in my Bible regarding Numbers 5:11-31, “Seems so unfair, Lord.” There are many things in the Bible, that seem that way. But, could it be I just don’t understand it? It’s one of the many heaven questions I have for Jesus.


I trust You, Lord, even if I don't understand Your ways!

Numbers 3 & 4: Ministry to the Lord First, Then...

These chapters reflect the temple duties of the various families within the tribe of Levites. It's wonderful to serve in our churches, community and families, but these obligations should never supersede our personal ministry to the Lord!

I believe my first ministry is to my God, which empowers me to minister to anyone else the Lord my places before me. I never want to take for granted the beauty of His holiness. I don’t want to squelch tears of appreciation for Jesus’ touch.

Holy Spirit, never allow me to treat You as a common thing. I don’t want a relationship born out of duty and not love. Stir me up in the depths of my soul for You alone!!! AMEN!!!!