If anyone knows Melissa…

One Year Bible Passages for today – Leviticus 1-3; Mark 1:29-2:12; Psalm 35:17-28; Proverbs 9:13-18

A Remnant Goes to the Priests
And the remnant of the grain offering shall be Aaron’s and his sons’: it is a thing most holy of the offerings of the Lord made by fire. – Leviticus 2:3

Remnant – A remaining, usually a small part; a fragment or scrap; leftover

Salt of the Covenant
And every oblation of thy grain offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy grain offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt. – Leviticus 2:13

What is the Salt of the Covenant? My Bible note says that this most likely means that the covenant is perpetual because salt was used as a preservative.

Perpetual Statute – No Fat or Blood
And the priest shall burn them upon the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire for a sweet savour: all the fat is the Lord’s. It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood. – Leviticus 3:16-17

God does not forbid eating all fat. There is though a specific type of fat that HE wants us to avoid.

Leviticus 1:8 –  And the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar.

If you look at the Hebrew word translated as fat from this verse, it is “peder.” According to Strong’s Dictionary this means – “from an unused root meaning to be greasy; suet. The term “peder” was only used three times in the OT and it was consistently used in relation to animal sacrfices. “Peder” means greasy and it refers to the HARD FAT in the animal, usually located around the kidneys, loins, and liver. This is all supported by the following verses:

Leviticus 9:10 – But the fat, and the kidneys, and the caul above the liver of the sin offering, he burnt upon the altar; as the Lord commanded Moses.

Leviticus 3:4 – And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away.

All of the fats and organs God speaks of have the purpose of either holding, filtering, and/or storing waste products and toxins that can be harmful to the body.

Caul above the Liver – the liver-net, or stomach-net, which commences at the division between the right and left lobes of the liver, and stretches on the one side across the stomach, and on the other to the regions of the kidney.

God knows their purpose because He created them and so He knows that they are unfit for human consumption.

Be Thou Clean
And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth. And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils. And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed. – Mark 1:38-42

Lord, Would You have mercy on my husband today? Would You put forth Your hand and touch him and cleanse us both that this deafness would depart this household from this day forward. Would You heal Him, Father? Would You cast out devils or show me so that I might cast them from my home? Would You open his ears in the physical and spiritual? In Jesus Name. Amen!

Let Them Be Ashamed
Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me. Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant. And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long. – Psalms 35:26-28

If I rejoice (even in my heart) or feel prideful when someone else suffers, the Psalmist has prayed that I will be brought to shame,  confusion, and dishonor. We should rejoice when someone prospers and be filled with joy and gladness that our righteousness may be a testimony and that we all might magnify the LORD.

Foolishness Leads to Hell
A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing. For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city, To call passengers who go right on their ways: Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell. – Proverbs 9:13-18

Oh Lord, Guard us against being foolish and making decisions that are foolish or lead us to folly. You have warned us that folly and foolishness lead to death and hell. Please help us, Father!

Folly – the state or quality of being foolish; lack of understanding or sense; a costly and foolish undertaking. Unwise investment

Foolish – resulting from or showing a lack of sense; ill-considered; unwise

One Year Bible Passages – Exodus 39-40; Mark 1:1-28; Psalm 35:1-16; Proverbs 9:11-12

Become – to come, change, or grow to be; to be suitable or necessary to the dignity, situation, or responsibility of.

Becoming a Levite
And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office. And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats: And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations. Thus did Moses: according to all that the Lord commanded him, so did he. – Exodus 40:13-16

Aaron was a Levite. From my early days as a Christian with a very specific call into the ministry of prayer and as a prayer leader within the church I attended, I have identified myself as a Levite.

Levites have no earthly inheritance because the Lord Himself is their inheritance. That spoke to me!!!

My dad died, leaving no inheritance or blessing. He was a minister, a man of God. But when I was fourteen, he decided to end his life, which became my identity and what I was left with. Once I was born again, I didn’t want that as my identity or inheritance, and I asked God to take my history and make me “new” there as He had in so many other areas. It didn’t really seem possible but I asked and it didn’t happen immediately. But, one day in the prayer room, the Holy Ghost fell on me as I read Joshua 13:33. I felt that quickening; that knowing. The old grief and longing lifted as I felt my Father reveal to me that my “new” and true identity in Him is as it was before He laid the foundations of the earth. I was a Levite and though I didn’t fully understand at the time, I believe God anointed me that very day as He did Aaron’s sons.

But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not any inheritance: the Lord God of Israel was their inheritance, as he said unto them. – Joshua 13:33

Does that mean I am anything extra special? Not at all. We each have a call and an inheritance in the Kingdom of God. I don’t even feel I am all that good ministering. As it regards prayer, I am awkward at times, and so often, I stutter and stumble over my words… but I am driven to pray and passionate about the place of prayer and taking my place in it. I love to minister to the Lord and His people in that way.

Some may not get it or recognize it; some may not understand what I have written here at all, but that is okay!!! I am proud of my God-given heritage. My inheritance is the God of Israel Himself!!! What more could I even want or need!!!

Becoming a Fisher of Men
And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. – Mark 1:17

What stood out to me in this verse is that He will make me to become a fisher of men but there is a prerequisite. I must “come after” Him. I must follow. To follow Jesus means not only walking where He walks but doing the things He does. Keeping my eyes on Him; my ears attune to His voice, my mind meditating on all He has said to me as we walk, and my heart pure that I can even walk after Him without stumbling. Then He will make me to BECOME what He desires…and He desires me to become a fisher of men.

Becoming Faithful: Finish the Work
And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the hanging of the court gate. So Moses finished the work. Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. – Exodus 40:33-34

God loves and honors faithfulness. We often start something, and when our recognition for what we do wanes, we slow down and then quit. God gives assignments, and He wants us to finish them…for His glory! Finish because we are faithful to Him. Is there something He has commanded you to do that is half-finished and laid down in that state? Pick it back up and be faithful to finish. The glory of the Lord is at the finish line.

Becoming Pure
But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom. I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother. But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not: – Psalms 35:13-15

David prayed and fasted for his enemies as though he were praying for his friends when they faced adversity. But his enemies rejoiced when misfortune came to his life. God had me turn this around in an interesting way today.

The Bible tells us to love and pray for our enemies. Through this verse, God asked me today, do you pray for your enemies with a pure heart, or do you do it for others to see but secretly harbor an attitude of happiness and arrogance when they fail?

God is dealing with all the impurities in my heart and revealing them to me one by one.

Becoming Wise
If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it. – Proverbs 9:10

I am reminded that If I choose to live wisely, it is going to benefit me. If I decide to live foolishly, I will have to deal with the consequences of my decisions. My decisions do not change God, but they change the path I take in life and the rewards or consequences I reap.

I can choose to live a joyful life that honors God or a miserable life that takes me nowhere.

I can take the impurities that God has revealed in the verses from Psalm and foolishly deny they apply to me and reap the consequences. I can deal with them, repent and surrender to the Father’s correction reap the benefits of living in wisdom.

Exodus 35:10-36:38; Matthew 27:32-66; Psalm 34:1-10; Proverbs 9:7-8

Fear the Lord
O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing. – Psalms 34:9-10

The Veil Was Made
And he made a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: with cherubims made he it of cunning work. – Exodus 36:35

The Veil Was Rent
Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. – Matthew 27:50-54

“When I take my first step beyond the veil, I will only have just begun Life With The Father.” ~ John G. Lake

Rebuke a Wise Man
Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. – Proverbs 9:8

An Encounter with God
When I got out of bed this morning and left the room I was sleeping in with my grandkids, II forgot to take my eyeglasses. Because of that, I couldn’t see. I could listen to the Daily Audio Bible but had difficulty reading the text, even enlarging it.

I began to scroll through Facebook and for some reason landed on a “live” video of someone I have never listened to for over a few minutes. I tried to listen to her but she was going in all different directions and I said out loud – JUST GET TO THE POINT! I was annoyed, and as I had done many other times on this particular person’s feeds, I started to get off and move on, but for some reason, I couldn’t. It was the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost let me know loud and clear that He wanted me to stop judging people in the natural and by things like dress or speech patterns and stuff like that. He wants me to go deeper. To learn to hear with spiritual ears and see with spiritual eyes. He let me know that I had to be open to hearing many others and that He would teach me how to discern what I needed to listen to and what was false by checking to see if they lined up with the Word of God. This woman said these things, but the Holy Ghost was having every Word bear witness in my heart. And He began right then and there to teach me in a way that left me in awe.

The first thing He taught me was this. As many have been preaching and the Bible says, there is gross darkness covering the world, but in those moments, He was most concerned about the gross darkness surrounding my heart. In a Word – Jealousy. Bitterness. Offense. I am tired of what these feelings are doing to my life, and He is even more tired of it!!!

God had taken this woman to heaven, and she was talking about your spirit “talking” there – without words to others. That this was possible because hearts and thoughts are known there.

Something “clicked” in me. It wasn’t words that she spoke, but words that the Holy Ghost planted within.

If God knows our hearts here and brings conviction on us and we don’t yield and repent, we won’t be in heaven. Why? Because hearts and thoughts are known in heaven. But those thoughts of jealousy and bitterness and offenses can’t be there. They are wicked. Those seeds we secretly hold on to might be able to remain hidden from others on earth, but you can’t hide them in heaven. Your hearts and your thoughts are known in heaven. No sin is in heaven. This filled me with holy fear. I want to be in heaven with my Father. He wants me there with Him but I am the one who has to make a choice to be obedient to His directions and warnings. He said in the first scripture I posted – there is no want to them that fear Him. Thank You, my GOOD, GOOD FATHER.

Oh yes, the Holy Ghost rebuked me this morning and brought great and life-changing conviction to my heart. And it is true, I do love Him so.

Oh Lord, forgive me for harboring jealousies and offenses. Thank You for bring them to me so vividly this morning. Help me now to rebuke and turn away from these wicked ways each and every time these demonic spirits raise their voices to try to destroy me. I tired of living this way Father and I know that just as You routed out the fear in my life, it is Your desire to root these things out. Oh Abba Father, thank You for loving me enough that as I have sought You in new ways this new year, You have allowed me to find You in new ways. Take me Lord deeper in You. Cause me to crave You more than I crave the things of this world or people in this world. Set me on FIRE, FATHER!!!! Let Your FIRE cleanse and purify me. I want to be holy, like You! Help me Lord…I ask in Jesus Name. Amen!!!

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!