Month: February 2021

Posted in Hiding His Word

His Presence Shall Go with Me

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

One – Year Bible passages for today
Exodus 32-33; Matthew 26:69-27:14; Psalm 33:1-11; Proverbs 8:33-36

If I have Found Grace in Thy Sight
And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle. And Moses said unto the Lord, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight. Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people. And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. – Exodus 33:11-14

Oh God, You know me by name, and You have extended grace to me over and over. Oh Lord, if I have found favor in Your sight today, will You extend Your grace once more and teach me Your ways? Will You tell me what You would have me to know so that I may know You, Lord? I want to know You, and I want to know Your ways and continue to find grace in Your sight. God, I am lonely in this place, and I need You to go with me. If not You, who will go with me? My family is leaving, my husband suddenly can’t hear (Heal him, Jesus!), I don’t have the large group of friends I once did, and some of my assignments that fed me so well seem to have dried up. It is hard, Lord, to have Your call dry up and not know the next step. Oh Lord, draw me close to You and help me through this day. Give me FIRE and help me to live a HOLY life and a life free of regret and offense. Oh Lord, can You go with me through this day. There is no one else.

And God says to me as He said to Moses – My Presence shall go with thee (Melissa), and I will give thee (Melissa) rest.

Thank You, Father. I love You, my Good, Good Father, and Your beautiful Son Jesus. I adore You, wise and comforting Holy Ghost. Thank You for teaching me Your ways this morning through prayer and Your Word and Your still small voice. Thank You for Your rest.

His Words are Truth
Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly. – Matthew 26:69-75

Bewrayeth – To reveal or expose; to betray

Well, regarding Peter, I’ve been there and done that. I have been the one weeping bitterly. Sometimes we forget what the Lord has spoken as a prophecy or warning. We think we will go down the right path, and then we find that we didn’t. What a hard truth – that we have the capacity within us to deny Him unless He guides every Word.

Today, I am so thankful for a merciful and forgiving Father. Yesterday a situation came, and with it, the temptation came to use my words for the cause of evil. To curse, to speak doubt, to dishonor. These are temptations, but that is where it all starts. In the temptation, I felt as though the Lord put His mighty hand over my mouth and kept me silent. Oh yes, the Lord’s hand is all that held me back. Without Him, I would mess up my life every day. This morning I am so thankful that I surrendered to His hand.

Thank You for Your mighty Hand, Father. Please continue to put it over my mouth, eyes, and heart that all my life and every word and action would be pleasing to You. In Jesus Name, I pray!!!

The Goodness of the Lord
For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth. He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. – Psalms 33:4-5

God allowed Moses to see His glory, and the scripture describes His glory as His goodness.

Lord, will You show me Your glory today. Would You stop everything, even this morning, in this prayer room and pass by as I sit in the “cleft of this rock.” This rock of prayer, worship, and the Word. This little crevice on my own “Mountain of God.”

Hear Instruction and Be Wise
Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his soul: all they that hate me love death. – Proverbs 8:33-36

Oh my God, You are altogether wise. Would you speak to me today? Father, would You help me to surrender to Your wisdom and knowledge of You and Your ways? Help me watch for Wisdom, for there I find You…and I find LIFE and favor. If I have found favor, Father, touch me today and change me today and send me forth today in Your world. Send me as a light in the darkness—a light in the gross darkness that covers the earth. Lord, if warring in the Spirit in this little prayer room and learning more of Your Word and ways… is my assignment, for now, help me be content. If there is more that You would have me to do, please open Your doors and windows wide. In Jesus Name, I yield and come before You with these requests. Amen. Amen.

Posted in Hiding His Word

May Mercy Compass Me About

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

Exodus 30:11-31:18; Matthew 26:47-68; Psalm 32:1-11; Proverbs 8:27-32

He that Trusteth
Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about. – Psalms 32:10

Filled with the Spirit of God
And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship. And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee. – Exodus 31:3-6

This is another scripture where the Spirit of God fills the people with wisdom, understanding, knowledge and ability. The scripture says to devise cunning works and do all kinds of crafts and “workmanship.”

Cunning – skill employed in a shrewd or sly manner, craftiness; showing or made with ingenuity. Artfully subtle.

The Sabbath
Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you. Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. Exodus 31:13-16

God instituted observing the Sabbath as a sign between Himself and each child. It is a part of His never-ending covenant, and honor our part of that perpetual covenant.

Perpetual – continuing or enduring forever; everlasting
Covenant – a solemn agreement, usually formal, between two or more persons to do or not do something. In the Bible a covenant is the conditional promises made to humanity by God, as revealed in Scripture. The agreement between God and the ancient Israelites, in which God promised to protect them if they kept His law and were faithful to Him.

All Forsook Him
Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled. – Matthew 26:56b

Forsook – past tense of forsake.
Forsake – to quit or leave entirely; abandon; desert; to give up or renounce

Fled – past tense of flee
Flee – to run away; as from danger or pursuers; take flight; to move swiftly.

To me, these are a few of the most heartbreaking words in the Bible. I know the disciples were disappointed and ashamed of themselves. They may have questioned all they had done over the three years prior; everything they had learned. When circumstances disappoint, I often find myself fleeing or wanting to run. How much better would it be to be still, take a deep breath, and ask God for wisdom that we also read about today and are promised to receive?

I Am Wisdom (part 2)
When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:

Then I was by him, as one brought up with him:
and I was daily his delight,
rejoicing always before him;
Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth;
and my delights were with the sons of men.

Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children:
for blessed are they that keep my ways.
– Proverbs 8:27-32

Father, I enter Your presence today filled with gratitude and a heart of joy that You are covering me and carrying me through this time in my life. It has been a time of much chaos personally and in our nation, but I know You are here, and You are ordering my steps. Thank You for helping me to keep my emotions in check. Thank You for granting me mercy when I have failed and made oversights. God, I ask You in these next days to help me to trust You more. To help me not to forsake You and flee when the going gets tough. I can’t remain faithful without You, so I ask You for faithfulness. Fill me with Your Spirit afresh today. I ask You for wisdom, knowledge, skill, and ability to handle what is assigned to me. Help me to let go of the dreams and “assignments” I have created, that are not Your plan. Oh God, I want to live pleasing to You. God, heal my husband. Touch his ears that he can hear again. Help the doctors to find out what is going on. Help up both to walk in Your will and Your ways. Help us to trust You alone so that Mercy may compass us about, Oh Lord. I ask this all in Jesus’ holy Name. Amen! Amen!

Posted in Hiding His Word

I Am Wisdom

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

One Year Bible passages – Exodus 29:1-30:10; Matthew 26:14-46; Psalm 31:19-24; Proverbs 8:14-26

I am the Lord their God
This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord: where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee. And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory. And I will sanctify the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar: I will sanctify both Aaron and his sons, to minister to me in the priest’s office. And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God. And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them: I am the Lord their God. – Exodus 29:42-46

God wanted to dwell among His children. He wanted to be their God. His tabernacle was right at the center of all they did…and yet even, so they kept running back to idols. I think about that personally. The Holy Ghost resides in me, and so He is in the center of all I do and hears all I say; every word I type here goes through His eyes and heart. Are there areas of my life that I allow some of the world to enter in? Am I making idols of things and people right in front of His face? How sad that must make Him.

I am the Betrayed
“The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.” – Matthew 26:24

What a sad thought that it would have been better had Judas not been born that to betray Jesus. That statement is true of me as well because there was a time that I, too, betrayed Jesus in my life. Had the Holy Ghost not sent some to speak with me and He Himself kept drawing me. What if they hadn’t? It would have been better had I not been born. When we think of that and make it personal, it definitely gives a great reason to pause and reflect. Am I serving Jesus instead of serving man through my fear that I let run rampant?

I am the Wine and the Bread
“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom. And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.” – Matthew 26:26-30

Jesus and the disciples had gathered together to celebrate the Passover. They were there to remember what God had done for His children years ago. Jesus gave the disciples bread and wine during the Passover meal and commanded them to “do this in remembrance of Him.” He referred to the bread as His body and the wine as His blood. Remembering Jesus through the Lord’s Supper is important, not just because we are commanded to take it and remember. It is important because it took place the night before Jesus was crucified. His body and His blood both poured out for you and for me through His death.

I am the Lord who preserveth and rewardeth
O love the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord. – Psalms 31:23-24

I am Wisdom
Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom:
I am understanding;
I have strength.
By me kings reign,
and princes decree justice.
By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

I love them that love me;
and those that seek me early shall find me.

Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold;
and my revenue than choice silver.

I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance;
and I will fill their treasures.

The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
When there were no depths, I was brought forth;
when there were no fountains abounding with water.
Before the mountains were settled,
before the hills was I brought forth:
While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. 
When he prepared the heavens, I was there:
when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:

– Proverbs 8:14-27

The Scriptures tell us that of all the things we can seek, wisdom is best. Seek wisdom. If we seek her, she will be found. I made the passage above into a list that looks like a poem, because as I read it, that is how I saw it. A list of all Wisdom is. 

That reminds me of the passage in James about wisdom.

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. – James 1:5

Heavenly Father, I came before You today tired and perplexed about many earthly things. But Lord, I take these moments to focus on You and what You would say to me and teach me. Holy Ghost, help me to hear Your Word to the depths of my heart. Father, I do come before You and ask for wisdom, and I thank You in advance for it because wisdom is promised me just for the asking. I ask for guidance in all that I have to do today. Please put a watch over my mouth and heart. Please help me guard against offense, competition, and all those things that You would consider evil. I don’t want to be rewarded for pride, so help me avoid pride at all costs knowing that it goes before my fall. I don’t want to fall, Jesus. I ask healing for my husband. Touch and open his ear as You created when You formed him. Help us both to be on FIRE for You. Help us to be true to our callings and we will give you the GLORY, HONOR, and PRAISE. In JESUS Name I ask these things. Amen! Amen!

Posted in Hiding His Word

Let Them Be Silent

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

One Year Bible Passages – Exodus 28:1-43; Matthew 25:31 – 26:13; Psalm 31:9-18; Proverbs 8:12-13

Let Them Be Silent
My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies’ sake. Let me not be ashamed, O Lord; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave. Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous. – Psalms 31:15-18

First gifts
And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office. – Exodus 28:3

I love how the artisans are said to be “filled with the spirit of Wisdom.” Artistic ability of any kind is a gift from God, as is Wisdom. Expressions of art through things like needlework and sculpting were some of the earliest gifts that we read about in the Bible, and crafts such as these done as unto the Lord or for the Kingdom purposes is using your skills with wisdom. I imagine an artist would do their best work filled with the Holy Ghost? Don’t I do my best work, whether in an occupation or crafting, if I am filled with the Holy Ghost and anointed for that purpose? This passage was a great encouragement to me.

Holy Unto the Lord
And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD. – Exodus 28:36

The words “HOLINESS TO THE LORD” actually have the same connotation as belonging to the Lord. Set apart for the Lord.

Everyone knows who Aaron is by the words he wears fastened to the front of his turban. They know Who he belongs to. He stands out. If I am part of the royal priesthood (and I am), shouldn’t I stand out too? Shouldn’t everyone know whose I am and what I am about not by Words on my forehead but by the way I live my life?

Sheep and Goats
“When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:” – Matthew 25:31-34

The distinction between the sheep and the goats was about who they followed and in this instruction about how they cared for people. This should be a great encouragement for anyone who lives with neglect, abuse, or any other form of suppression. When I care for those, I am caring for Jesus.

Immediately after the passage about the sheep and goats, the religious leaders meet and conspire to kill Jesus. And then, at the end of today’s passages, one of the once marginalized women comes and anoints Jesus with oil. Such a beautiful act of gratitude and love. We can make judgments against those that are conspiring or against the disciples for their reaction to the anointing of oil, but we probably should first examine our own heart and make sure that we are not having the same reactions and attitudes toward others.

Fear of the Lord
I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions. The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. – Proverbs 8:12-13

Prudence – wise in practical affairs; caution with regard to practical matters.

Arrogancy – offensive display of superiority or self-importance; overbearing pride.

Froward – willfully contrary; not easily managed

Posted in Hiding His Word

Better Than Rubies

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

One Year Bible passages – Exodus 26:1-27:21; Matthew 25:1-30; Psalm 31:1-8; Proverbs 8:1-11

Secret Places
And thou shalt hang up the veil under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the veil the ark of the testimony: and the veil shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy. – Exodus 26:33

This passage reminds me that because of the price Jesus paid on the cross, there are secret places with the Lord, available to those who seek Him.

Pure Oil
And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always. – Exodus 27:20

There was a pure oil that burned and brought Light that was to never go out. Oil the symbol of the Holy Ghost. God charges us to remain faithful and diligent to “keep the lamp burning.” As those who are to be reflections of His light (light-bearers), we are only able to do God’s work through the power and strength granted by the Holy Ghost, who lives within and fills them.

Stewardship
“For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.” – Matthew 25:29

Stewardship is important to Jesus. How I handle what He’s given to me matters. The servants who stewarded well received back more and was entrusted with more. We all have a calling in our lives. You have one and I have one. What I do with my calling, my purpose, my life. What I do with my gifts matter. We have been given freedom to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ; we have been given the opportunity to reflect Jesus along our way. How are we doing with that? How am I? it matters to the Master.

Hesed
I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities; – Psalms 31:7

David rejoiced in God’s lovingkindness. His Hesed. He has joy because he knows that God has seen his affliction and has known his troubles. God knows our troubles too. Not only because He knows all things, but because He came to earth as a man and lived and endured all the things we endure. He suffered loneliness, rejection, pain, sickness, hunger, abuse, torture, and even death. He experienced the utter sorrow of being cut off from God’s love. But these things happened so that we would have a perfect High Priest who understood our sufferings. Those sufferings brought us to God, that we may live with Him eternally.

Wisdom
For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. – Proverbs 8:11

I can desire many things – houses, land, relationships, riches, gifts, easy life, peace. But the best thing I can ever desire is WISDOM. The Word tells me here that nothing compares to it.

Father, I come before You today, so thankful for all that You have given to me. Thank You for Your Hesed that sent Your perfect Son, Jesus, into this world to pay a price I could not pay for my sins. Thank You, Jesus! Thank You for Your Instruction through Your Word. You said if we lacked wisdom to ask for it. Lord, I ask for more wisdom that I may live in holiness and that I may be able to go into the secret places You have set aside for those that seek You with their whole hearts. Thank You, Lord, that if I steward the things You have given – prayer, study of Your Word, obedience to Your voice, yield to Your Holy Ghost, love for Your Son…that more will be given. Father, if You never gave me another thing, You have given me LIFE, and I am so grateful, and I love You so much. Thank You for always meeting me here as I seek You more and more. Increase my desire for Your Word and all Your ways. Help me to avoid temptations that may throw me off of Your perfect path for me. Help me to bear Your Light faithfully today and that Your reflection through my life will touch someone. I ask this all in Jesus’ holy and precious Name. Amen! Amen

Posted in Hiding His Word

Obey, Watch, Attend, Remember, and (once again) Hearken!

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

One Year Bible passages – Exodus 23:14-25:40; Matthew 24:29-51; Psalm 30:1-12; Proverbs 7:24-27

Hearken – to hear and to give heed or attention to what is said; to listen
Listen – to give pay attention; heed; obey; to wait attentively for a sound
Attend – to take care of; minister to ; devote one’s services to; to wait upon; watch over; to be present at

Obey the voice of the angel
Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him. But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries. – Exodus 23:20-22

Many times we are unaware of what God has given us. He gives us His Word. He provides us Pastors and other ministers to guide and direct us. He gives us the Holy Ghost to teach us and comfort and be with us every step of the way. And He gives us angels. In Exodus, God told them that He had given them An Angel. They couldn’t see the angel, but they were to listen and obey his voice.

Of angels, Hebrews 1:14 says, they are ministering spirits sent to serve us (who will inherit salvation).

Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

We are never alone. We have Holy Ghost who is always with us. And we have angels to do their assigned work on His behalf and for our good. In Exodus, we learn that the angel of God bears His Name. And so if the Israelites were to hear and heed the voice of His angel, so should we hearken if an angel speaks, and we should always, always hearken to what the Holy Ghost says because that is God Himself speaking.

Watch as the Day approaches
“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” – Matthew 24:35-39

“Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” – Matthew 24:42-44

No one knows when Jesus will return. No one except the Father. It will be as in the days of Noah. No one knew until it was on them. Even Noah did not know, but Noah did know to listen and hearken unto the voice of God. God instructed Noah to get on that ark and take his family and the animals as Noah had to hearken to the voice of God we too have to hearken. We do not need to worry about when the end is coming. We need to work for the Kingdom of God as though it were today and listen and do everything that God instructs us to do.

In His favour is life
Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. – Psalm 30:4-5

Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me: Lord, be thou my helper. – Psalms 30:10

Such beautiful promises that his anger endureth but a moment, in His favor is life, and joy cometh in the morning. How do we obtain His favor? Praise Him!!! Remember His holiness!!! Hearken unto His voice!!! Know that even if you are in a season of weeping, it is only a season, and His joy is coming. Ask Him to have mercy and help you in the “night” season, but have faith in what He has promised is coming in “the morning.”

Hearken Unto Him; Attend to His Words
Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth. Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. – Proverbs 7:24-25

Over and over in Proverbs, we are told to hearken unto the voice of God and His Word.

Father, Thank You for Your Word today. Thank You that You give us exactly what and who we need along this path. Thank You that You sent Your Holy Ghost to be with us and that You sent those that would write this very Word that we may hear Your instruction. Thank You that You sent angels to protect and work on our behalf. Father I don’t see the angels, but I have faith that they are there. Sometimes I feel so lonely, but I know I am not alone because the angels and Holy Ghost are in and around. Father, help me truly hearken to Your voice, Your Word, and those You send to speak to me. Help me to wait attentively while working diligently and faithfully for You and Your Kingdom. Lord, would you set me on FIRE for You and the things of You. Would You give me holy zeal to share the Gospel? Would You teach me Your Word and fill me with compassion and seal me into the secret places of prayer as even You sealed Noah into the ark. I love You, Father, and I love Your Son, Jesus. I love Holy Ghost, who is even the One helping me to ask this prayer. Fill me again today Holy Ghost that I may be pleasing and an imitator of Christ. Oh, Holy Ghost, help me reflect Jesus to this lost and dying world. In Jesus Name, I ask and pray. Amen! Amen!

Posted in Hiding His Word

Warnings and Promises

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

One Year Bible passages – Exodus 21:22-23:13; Matthew 24:1-28; Psalm 29:1-11; Proverbs 7:6-23

The price for hurting widows and orphans
Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry; And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless. – Exodus 22:22-24

WARNINGS FROM MATTHEW 24:4–12

Don’t let anyone deceive you
“And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

Many will come in My Name
For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Wars and rumors of wars
And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

People will rise up against people; even earth warns
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

Just the beginning
All these are the beginning of sorrows.

You will be hated for My Name
Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.

Offense, betrayal, hate are common
And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

Many false prophets shall deceive
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

Sin will be common so love will grow cold
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

PROMISES OF MATTHEW 24:13-14

Promise – endure and you will be saved
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Promise – the Gospel will be preached in ALL the world and THEN the end will come
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” – Matthew 24:4-14

Will signs and wonders deceive you?
“For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” – Matthew 24:24

Everyone will see the coming of Jesus
“For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.” – Matthew 24:27-28

Sin promises much but delivers only death
With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him. He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks; Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life. – Proverbs 7:21-23

Promise – strength and peace
The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace. – Psalms 29:11

My Father and my God, I come before You today to thank You for Your Word, Your warnings, and Your promises. Help me to put them within my heart that they may guide and encourage me today and in the days to come. Thank You for sending Your precious Son, Jesus, that I may live eternally with You. Thank You for sending Your Holy Ghost to comfort, guide, and strengthen me. Touch my family with Your healing, and touch me with Your wisdom and divine knowledge. Show Yourself mighty in our nation today. In Jesus Name, I pray. Amen! Amen!

Posted in Hiding His Word

His Law is the Apple of My Eye

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

God gives His Law: He is Holy
And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. – Exodus 19:16

And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not. And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was. – Exodus 20:18-21

God wants a face-to-face meeting with the Israelites to give them His law. When it is time for the meeting, they become afraid. An up-close encounter with God can be as troubling as it is comforting. God is a holy God, and Israel couldn’t see, feel, hear God, and not be acutely aware that He is altogether perfect and holy, and they were not.

Jesus confronts distortion of God’s Law – Be Ye Holy
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.”

“Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.” – Matthew 23:25-26; 28

The leaders of Jesus’ day were more concerned with what others thought than faithful obedience to God’s Law. These leaders knew the law and knew it very well. The law (as we read in the passages today from Exodus) was given by a loving God instructing a people who had never lived any way but as slaves. They needed direction and guidance.

Now, fast forward to this passage in Matthew. Jesus is angry because the religious leaders have taken His law and are now using it to control people rather than to teach them to be holy, as He is holy. How often do I fall into this same trap? Clean me up, Lord, that I can be holy as You are holy. As a child of God, I ought to desire to be pure and holy rather than to appear so.

God’s Law is the Apple of My Eye
Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart. – Proverbs 7:2-3

Treasure, honor and share His commands. Keep them. Bind them into everything you do. Love His commandments always. They are the “apple of my eye,” and I have written them on my heart.

He is My Strength and Shield
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. The Lord is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed. Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever. – Psalms 28:7-9

David learned that God would not fix everything or make everything perfect for him. But, God would give David protection and strength to fight and overcome his trials. I am so thankful that God does the same thing for us.  God doesn’t promise to fix every problem we face, but oh yes, He does promise to give us what we need to overcome them.

Passages for today: Exodus 19:16-21:21; Matthew 23:13-39; Psalm 28; Proverbs 7:1-5

Oh Heavenly Father, Thank you for Your Word. Thank You for your instruction and guidance. Thank You that it was given in Love because You are Love. Help me to show that same Love. I want to be Holy as You are Holy, Lord. Please shine Your Light on those things in my cup that needs cleaning. Please help me to cease worrying about the outside of my cup and what others think about that. Help me to focus on You. I love Your Word. Holy Ghost, help me to always treasure, honor, and LOVE it. I cannot do it without You filling me again and again. Father, You are my strength and my shield. I love you, Jesus. My Eternal God, I thank You for sending Your precious Son to pay the ultimate price on the Cross that I can even ask for Your Help and thank You and praise You today. Please help me to hold fast against the trials and temptations that come against me today. In Jesus Name, I pray. Amen! Amen!

Posted in Hiding His Word

Thy Face, Lord, Will I Seek

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

One Year Bible passages: Exodus 17:8-19:15; Matthew 22:34-23:12; Psalms 27:7-14; Proverbs 6:27-35

Lift their arms
And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. – Exodus 17:11-12

Honor the leaders and serve them by holding up their weary hands. Realize that you have no idea all that the Father has placed as assignments in their lives, even as they have no idea the full extent of your call. Honor. They are chosen for the purpose of leading, shepherding, teaching. Honor them.

Teach me Thy way
When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.

Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.. – Psalms 27:8, 11

Don’t play with fire (sin)
Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? – Proverbs 6:27-28

Accept and give yourself no titles
“But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” – Matthew 23:8-12

Abase – To reduce or lower, as in rank, office, reputation, or estimation; humble, degrade

These verses make me pause. They are the Words of Jesus, and as the Psalm today says, they teach and lead on a plain path. They cause me to pause and think on what I allow others to call me. No one calls me Rabbi or Master, but do I ever glory when a title is attached? Do I ever long to be called, as others are called, with titles that exalt in some way. No, that should not be. We all are brothers and sisters. We are all chosen but not chosen because we are better than others. We are chosen for a purpose. We are in this together as the body and God placed us as He desired…brothers and sisters…. and we should leave it at that.

Heavenly Father, You have told me to seek Your face, and Your face have I sought today. Thank You for your presence and Your Word. Help me today to honor You by exalting You and You alone. Help me not to desire any form of exaltation. Help me honor my leaders and serve them by holding up their hands as Aaron and Hur did for Moses but not placing any tempting and burdensome titles upon them. Help me to avoid the pitfalls of the enemy lest I grab hot coals because they entice me while all the while expecting not to be burned. I ask for discernment today. I ask for wisdom and knowledge. Help me to walk in holy fear that I may avoid those coals. Let all I do today glorify You and honor You. In Jesus Name, I pray. Amen! Amen!

Posted in Hiding His Word

Diligently Hearken to His Voice

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

Today in our Bible reading, we heard the complaints and murmurings of the children of Israel. They didn’t like the struggles of the wilderness and would have given up their freedom and their Promised Land for an easier path.  Truly it is amazing how the Word of God so often a mirror exposing my own heart.

Jesus did the same thing to us through the reading of the New Testament. His stories seem to always become the stories of our lives. 

How many times do we have freedom and we knew  God rescued us, but then things get difficult again? And in difficulty, our hearts are exposed. Things intensify, and it is evident that we too, would trade our gift of  liberty for slavery. We would choose slavery over freedom because slavery might be more comfortable than bondage. It might be easier temporarily, but bondage will kill us in the end.

This is true of the Israelites, but it doesn’t take much time or effort to recognize it also in my own lives.

To live victoriously and free I believe we will have to fight for freedom. The fight is to resist the enemy and learn to trust Him alone. Now, once you are set free things may get harder for a season but even so…nothing can be taken from you. You can give it back to the enemy as the Israelites thought they wanted to do but if you just stand…nothing can be taken. You know WHO you belong to, and you know that He is the Most High God. For eternity, forever,  you will be His child and in fellowship with Him. He is our Promised Land.

But until we know that we know that, we will just keep making circles in the same wilderness, going around and around while God tries to teach us lessons we refuse to learn. Help us, Father!!!

Today’s reading – Exodus 15:19 – 17:7, Matthew 22:1-33, Psalms 27:1-6; Proverbs 6:20-26

If Thou Wilt Diligently Hearken to the Voice of the Lord…

He shall heal me
And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee. – Exodus 15:26

And the Lord said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws? – Exodus 16:28

He shall call and choose me
Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen. – Matthew 22:8-14

He shall hide me
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. – Psalms 27:1, 3, 5

He shall lead, keep, and talk with me
My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light, and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: – Proverbs 6:20-23

Oh, eternal Father, help me I pray to learn the lessons I need to learn in this wilderness. Help me to yield that I can draw ever closer to You and my Promised Land. Help me to diligently hearken to Your voice and to be obedient once I hear. Help me to focus only on You and the abundant gifts you give. Lead and guide me through this day, Holy Spirit. Heal me of my infirmities. Deliver me from the mind battles that try to take me off the path You have chosen for me. Seal this Word and let it grow in my spirit. I ask this all in the Name above all Names. I ask this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.