Seventy-five...

Saturday the 17th... I was so cool... I slept in, did laundry and cleaned my apartment, hardcore like dusted and mopped and swept and did dishes!!! I have absolutely no food to my name, but at least my apartment is clean.. Later that evening I went with my friend JH to frozen yogurt and a movie at Alamo draft house, it was my first time there and we saw the Help... I thought it was a pretty good movie, pretty emotional, but overall a good movie. JH and I had fun, she told me I can no longer pick the movie now, haha but overall, it was so much fun hanging out and getting to know each other on a more personal level other than the hey I work with you. She is a really awesome person and I enjoyed spending time with her.

What I read Exodus 25...

The Lord tells them how they are to worship him, and they are to make an ark and a tabernacle and lamp stands and a table... He gets pretty intricate and detailed and there is a lot of images and symbolism to be spoken of in this, however, yet again I am reading it from my point of view and though I could tell you how awesome it is that the Lord explains the symbolism later in the Bible... but I am instead going to be me and look at it from a very humble viewpoint and just admire Moses and the Israelites and their faith. In v. 17-22

"Make an atonement cover of pure gold -two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. And make two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. Make one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; make the cherubm of one piece with the cover, at the two ends. The cherubim are to have their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the cover. Place the cover on top of the ark and put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law that I will give you. There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the covenant law, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites."

I just think it is so awesome how amazing the Lord is that as he is giving all these commandments, he already saw the beautiful ark. He knew who would make it. He knew the hands that would be able to work with the gold and he knew who would make the cherubs. He knew that the people would be able to do this amazing work, because he had already allowed some of the Israelite men the ability to study under a goldsmith, that would teach them how to perform such work. I just love that, because when I originally read this my simple mind always thinks... Really? How on earth is this going to happen, not only that, but who the heck knows what a cherub looks like... I had to relook it up on google, because I couldn't remember. I always just think a flying baby right? haha I know so not at all what it is... more like a toddler. But seriously how crazy a request I keep thinking. However, this thing had to be amazing... I mean it was the ark of the covenant. A man could die just by touching it, later on. Obviously, not while they were building it. I just love how awesome the Lord is and how he provides and knows and allows man the creative and workmanship to be able to produce exactly what he had desired. The Lord is good.

Good Night and God Bless!

Seventy-four....

Friday the 16th... I worked yay... It was a good day I said hi to friends, it was busy but overall the Lord had it all under control it was my first full day as working as charge nurse and though I was a little nervous I think the Lord really covered it. I am thankful that he is in control even when it feels like everything is spiraling out of control.

What I read Exodus 24...

The Lord makes his covenant with Moses and the Israelites. He tells Moses his plan and the people say okay.... This is my favorite part... v. 15-18

"When Moses went up the mountain, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from within the cloud. To the Israelites the glory of the LORD looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain. Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights. "

I love that Moses waited. Why don't we wait on the Lord anymore. I need to be a better waiter. Haha not in the sense of serving others, but I guess I need to work on that too, but more so in the sense of just being calm and still and waiting on the LORD to talk to me... So often I fall subject to our societies growing problem of wanting instant results, how quick can you make this happen, in a second, in a minute, an hour, a day, a week, a month, it is all so ridiculous how we want everything to happen in an instant. I know I am the guiltiest of all in this area. I want God to solve my problems the second they happen. I don't want to struggle in turmoil over them for days, weeks, months, or years on end. I know that the Lord has his perfect timing, but that rarely matches up with what I consider perfect timing. Ugh... like losing weight, haha all the experts say weight loss comes with exercise and eating right... and I know that it works, yet healthy weight loss takes time, weeks, months, years... haha who wants to wait that long, when you want instant results right... Or how about acne, no one actually wakes up and thinks Awesome I have mount Vesuvius on my face. They are all thinking, I wonder who is going to be looking at the mountain on my face and not my actual features on my face. I know I do.... haha well, I guess maybe not all people fixate on it, but still I think it is pretty much a concern for most people who are self-conscious. Well, I know that was an extended tangent, but I just wanted to say I love that Moses waits 6 days before the Lord came and appeared, because he knew he would come. He promised he would come and he came, I love that Moses showed faith in waiting. You don't read, Moses went up the mountain and prayed LORD, would you please hurry up and make an appearance already. I need to get to my sandal fitting latter this afternoon. Maybe, if we invoked the same patience we should have for the Lord towards other people, we would be happier people. The Lord can come in an instant.... RAPTU

haha ok so the Rapture didn't happen but He could do it... why don't we give people more time, I mean they are only human... they are actually going to need to 20 years to get it right, because we are imperfect sinful people. That is why God sent his son to save man, right.... Well, in short I guess Lord give me patience.

Good Night and God Bless!

Seventy-three...

Thursday the 15th... Off today, it was TF's birthdays so I went and hung out with her and cleaned my apartment in the morning, then we watched a movie and her place and I chatted with her and told her of my first night helping with the youth group, which was awesome!! Then after hanging out I went home and cleaned some more. I had an awesome chat with my friend DF who is heading to Italy for an amazing time studying Gods word at Calvary Chapel. I am so excited for her. I was sad I missed seeing her when she was in Houston, but I think the Lord had his hand in it, because he knew I had to work early the next day and the drive would be ridiculously long for me. It was so great chatting with her. I know the Lord is going to do awesome things in her life and really cover the time that she has while she is over there. I am also super stoked about the coming year with the youth group! My girls are awesome and I cannot wait to get to know them all better and see what the Lord is doing in their lives as well as what he is going to teach me.

What I read Exodus 23...

Basically, do not be unjust, keep the Sabbath and follow the path that he has laid out for you... as he is sending his angel ahead of them to take care of them... What an awesome God we serve! Here is what I love in the chapter... v.10-12

"For six years you are to sow your fields and harvest the crops, but during the seventh year let the land lie unplowed and unused . Then the poor among your people may get food from it, and the wild beasts may eat what is left. Do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove. Six days do your work, but on seventh day do not work, so that your ox and your donkey may rest, and so that the slave born in your household and the foreigner living among you may be refreshed.

The Lord really takes care of us... He not only is looking out for the poor and for the wild animals, but he also knows that if you let the ground alone, the nutrients will replenish and thus their crops will be better in the year to come... I also love that he has a hand in taking care of the people. We were born with a circadian rhythm that is built on a 24 hr system and we have more energy when the sun is out getting it from the Vitamin D, but when during the winter we are more tired and stay in side during the cold winter months, the Lord has us work 6 days and rest on the 7th because that is the rest are bodies need. We need to recover from a hard 6 days of work.... yet in the chaos of a world we live in now, we jam stuff into every hour of the day that we don't leave time to sleep and even recover from a day let alone a week. It is no wonder that we are exhausted and need to drink coffee just to make it through the day. Not to mention, I don't think they ever worried about light when the sun wasn't out. You get up with the sun rises and you go to sleep when it goes down. Therefore, their work days were shorter than ours, we get up before the sun rises and we get home long after the sun has set. Somedays, I think if I just moved into a cabin the woods and became a lil hermit I would be so much happier, but I do love people even though they drive me crazy sometimes. I don't think I would last long out there by myself. Why don't we go back to work days like the biblical times or to the meals that they ate back then, I doubt they struggle with obesity. Our bodies were designed for hard labor and yet we work in jobs where you don't have to leave a desk for 12 hours if you don't want to. How sad, maybe we should make all our secretaries stand... haha just kidding. Or typing on a computer, that doesn't seem like what are fingers or wrists were made to do for 8-10 hours a day, no wonder people get carpal tunnel or hand cramps. So crazy the world we live in. But then again. I do love my computer, it connects me to people that are thousand of miles away. I could see them live with a camera that shoots live footage of what they are doing. I guess there are ups and downs to anything. These are just the thoughts that float around in my head. Well, I just love how the Lord takes care us making us take a rest, knowing already that we want to be little worker bees constantly trying to get ahead in life. But how often do we hear the story of the 2 men that were cutting trees, one cut the whole time, the other took several breaks, however, it was the one who took breaks that finished first. Because during those breaks he sharpened his axe. I think that speaks directly to our times. You will not get ahead no matter how much you try without sharpening your axe, because in taking the time to rest you sharpen yourself and can be ready for whatever the Lord is going to throw at you next.

Good Night and God Bless!

Seventy-two...

Wednesday the 14th... Another great day of working... haha ok so it wasn't that great but I like to live optimistically.

What I read Exodus 22...

Well, basically if you stole from your neighbor in the old days equals really bad news bears for you... The part that really kind of hit home for me was when in v.16-17

"If a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged to be married and sleeps with her, he must pay the bride-price, and she shall be his wife. If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he must still pay the bride-price for virgins."

I kind of love this. Truth be told, virginity is no longer held in such high esteem in our society nowadays, it is frustrating to talk to people and in fact when I went to the doctor he asked me if I could be preggo... I was like nope not possible, I just had my period like it literally ended yesterday and then I told him that I was abstinent. He was like are you sure? Me are you kidding... no I could not be pregnant unless it is immaculate conception, which I am pretty sure only happens once in mankind and since Mary was told by the Lord I'm pretty sure that it is not going to happen to me. Well, after being a little miffed he left and he still ordered the pregnancy test. Well, apparently he didn't trust me! Excellent! I love that we live in a society where people just assume you sleep around and are in everybody's pants.... well, I want out and I want to meet someone that shares some of the same morals and beliefs that I do because this is just ridiculous. People should believe and trust each other, what do I have to gain by lying he is not my father. Well, that was frustrating, but I did the test and it came back negative! I wonder if he felt like a jack for ordering it when it came back negative, but I will say this I have lost most respect for him that he doesn't trust his patients. Well... If we lived in bible days I wonder if my doctor would have listened to me. haha I guess I was more upset about it then I thought I was. Oh well... frustration is okay as long as it doesn't overwhelm you right? Well, whatever your feelings are on the matter. I think God had a good idea to keep those who have slept together, together in the end, because though I have never had sex I do believe it is something that once you have with someone you kind of have given a piece of yourself to that person and out of marriage could be bad hard when you break up. I am no expert on the bible, but I think God and I are in sync on this matter.

Good Night and God Bless!

Seventy-one...

Tuesday the 13th... Yet another day working the day away...

What I read Exodus 21...

The people get more rules and regulations about how they are to treat each other, I think it can all be summed up in verse 23-25

"But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise. "

What if we still lived that way. You hit me I get to hit back, you knock out my tooth I get to take out yours or you have to compensate me for my loss. How lenient we have gotten that we allow people to live even after they have killed someone in cold blood. I have a hard time allowing people who just desire to kill others live. I personally agree with the Lord on this one, that they should die. However, I know that the Lord loves us all and that he has allowed all of us free will and because of that our government has taken the liberty to give those people a second chance to reform and become a productive member of society. I guess far better people are in a place of our Country, I just work for them, so I better not saying anything bad about them. I pray for those in a position of power that you allow them great wisdom and grant them the guidance to lead our country in a positive direction.

Good Night and God Bless!

Seventy...

Monday the 12th... Back to work I go... Not much to say.

What I read Exodus 20...

The 10 commandments are given to Moses... kind of a big deal.

I think something that gets me every time I read this is that it doesn't seem that hard. Have no other gods before me... sure that seems easy enough, but how often do I stress about the way I look or become obsessed with food when I go on a diet, I am making that a greater obsession than I am worshiping the Lord. Then you shall not make yourself any idol, that seems easy enough, but we have shows on tv called american idol, we have tv stars or things in our houses that we have in the center of our apartments and not just a bible or an alter to God... another mishap. Then you shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God. Sure I never take the Lords name in vain, but how often do I just stand by and listen as other people do. I need to stand up for the Lord and ask them not to speak like that. Another failure. Remember the sabbath day and keep it holy. Okay so not sure if I am doing to well on this one either sure I go to church on this day and I usually relax, but I miss home so much on sundays that I usually try to book myself dry and do not take any rest. Who am I to think that I do not need a day of rest. Yet again another failure... Honor your father and mother.... hmm... well I think for the most part I do keep this one, however, when I was younger I know I loved them but I did not always show them the respect that they deserved. So I guess we'll chalk that up to another fail. You shall not murder... well I could say I have never done this one... but how often do I get angry in traffic and yell at the person in front of me and in my mind wish that bad things would happen to them... :/ oops... another fail. You shall commit adultery... well in the simplest form I have kept this one, but yet again I believe I fail, because I do occasionally enjoy looking at the men in magazines or in the movies that I watch without their shirts and think my oh my they look good. I do not believe I would ever do anything with them, but I am afraid there maybe a little bit of lust in me when that happens. Oops... another fail. You shall not steal... well I have never really stolen from a store, I have never stolen from friends or family, but how often to I yearn for something that the Lord has blessed someone else with, I've stolen their blessing and I have been envious of something, when I should have shared in their joy of being blessed... so yet another fail... You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor... well, how many times out of anger have I talked bad about someone just because I was mad or angry, whether it was true or not... I was wrong to say anything.... Perhaps I need to watch Bambi again. If you cannot say anything nice, then don't say anything at all. so add that to another fail... You shall covet anything that belongs to your neighbor, well I think we already discussed that I do envy my friends some of the blessings that have occurred in their lives... when I should have just been joyful with them. So I have failed 10x over... this seemingly simple list is basically impossible to keep, how grateful am I that we do not have to keep the mosaic law in order to get into heaven, but that he allows us a free gift, a free entrance ticket that all you have to do is just accept it and you are allowed entrance. What a wonderful blessing we are given. However, I am not off the hook on the ten commandments, I still need to work at living a joyful and God driven life, sin is bad because it is bad for us, the Lord desires to keep our hearts in him, because he is good and he will take care of us so help me Lord in a world full of temptation that I stay in your design and plan for my life.

Good Night and God Bless!

Sixty-nine...

Sunday the 11th... I went to church and got to see some friends it was my first time back to church after 2 weeks... I was really emotional today. I think it was because on Sundays I always get a little emotional, but mostly because it was also 9-11, it was one of those days where you just remember how much people mean to you, how much you miss those you love. I remembered what I signed on for in the AF. I remembered those that came before me. I remembered those that lost their lives. I never really considered myself a super emotional person, however, the older I get the more I feel affected by the sadness that goes on around me. I cannot help but get all torn up when I think about all the people in the buildings those days or the people on the planes... What would be my thoughts as I already knew my fate. Would I pray for those I would leave behind... would I call my mom, what would I do. I do not know and I pray that I don't have to find out anytime soon by being placed in that position. I do love that my mom always says she loves me before I leave, or before we hang up the phone. It's somewhat a goodbye greeting, but that way I can know the last thing I said to them was that I love them. That is an excellent feeling to know that the last thing you said to that person was that you loved them. For that is all that matters. Not to be all morbid, but if I end up getting buried and not cremated when I die, I want my tombstone to read, she loved and was loved. That is all that matters to me. On a happier note, I am so grateful to be alive and that I didn't die when I was 19, it amazes me the things that I have done since then and I want to keep living my life in way that is pleasing to him.

What I read Exodus 19...

The Lord speaks with Moses and tells the people to be prepared for the Lord is about to come down in a dense cloud and speak with Moses and Aaron on top of Mount Sinai on the 3rd day and the people are to consecrate and cleanse themselves before the Lord.

The people were probably trembling in fear as they prepared for the Lord, yet the Lord knew curiosity would get the best of them so he told Moses to tell all of them not to touch even the foot of the mountain or they would perish, by arrow or by being stoned to death. The Lord totally works in mysterious ways. I cannot imagine sitting at the bottom of the mountain as the cloud descends and knowing that the Lord is up there speaking with Moses and Aaron. How crazy that must have been, but to have already seen the great works of the Lords hand, I guess that would not have been such a big deal. But to be alive during that time, to be part of the great work that the Lord was doing must have been something. Even to be part of the grumbling. It would have been outstanding to see to be part of. If there was a time I would want to live during it would be this one... The things they saw, the great movement, the passion, the hopes, the joy of serving a Lord that works in such amazing ways would have been a blast to be part of. However, I am also grateful for the day that I live in, though it has a lot of devastation and the labor pains are getting greater, thus just means the Lord is that much closer to coming back!! Woohoo!!

Good Night and God Bless!

Sixty-eight...

Saturday the 10th... I went to Sea World with my friend TF and her family and friends... we had so much fun. We went on rides and got to watch some amazing animals do flips and dives and just perform some amazing feats. We also watched a lot of acrobats and amazingly skilled people work with the animals. I cannot help but think how cool that is and how blessed they must be to work with these talented animals. The Lord truly blesses us each with special gifts that allow us to be part of the body of Christ. I am grateful for my gifts as well, however, sometimes I wish I could be an acrobat too. Haha, until that days comes. ;) I guess I'll be happy just being an AF nurse.

What I read Exodus 18...

Moses' father in law comes to see him and brings Moses' wife and children with him back to their father. Moses had a great calling on his life. He was called to deliver the people out of Egypt and to take them to the promise-land... Although, I cannot help but wonder about his own children and his wife, did they feel neglected by all the help that Moses was giving to everyone else. I know my own parents were awesome at raising me they were in my lives to every point, very involved. I wonder if Moses was able to put into his children all the love that he showed to the Israelites. I know earlier it said that God almost killed Moses because his own son was not circumcised. Was Moses failing in his parenthood... I wonder what Gershom and Eliezer felt toward their father, did they have great love for him for all that he did, did they know him the way a father and son should know each other. I cannot help but wonder what it must have been to be the child of an absent parent. I had a brief encounter with it, but I knew the whole time he wanted to be with us. I cannot imagine having my life without both my parents. As I learn the backgrounds of some of my friends I wonder how they cope with that absence in their lives. I have been so blessed in life to have 2 parents who love me and take care of me and at sometimes are too involved in my life. However, being away from them now, I wish they were able to be more involved, but I know that at this point in my life I need to grow up and become a responsible adult without their constant presence. I do love them and I miss my family greatly!! For those without parents or fathers, just remember that the Lord is the best and a perfect father that we don't deserve but still he loves us.

Good Night and God Bless!

Sixty-seven

Friday the 9th...Another wonderful day of work, of recon, and smiles and laughter. I enjoy my work greatly and am so happy to be working with the amazing people that I work with.

What I read Exodus 17...

So the people grumbled against Moses and the Lord again for not having any water to drink, this time the Lord blessed them by telling Moses to strike a rock and water sprung from it and the people had water. Then Joshua appears on the scene and they fight the Amelekites and as long as Moses stood with his hands raised to the Lord, they won, but when he dropped his hands they began to lose... Eventually when Moses could no longer hold his arms up, Aaron and Hur had to hold his arms for him. I love that they helped Moses. I wonder if we were all to be in prayer right now and hold our hands up to the Lord, would we win this fight in the middle east. The problem that is happening is that tension has always been there. Perhaps that is the most that we can hope for till God comes back and reclaims what is his. Until then I will try to remember to daily pray for those who are fighting over there, those I know, and especially those I don't and who don't know the Lord. Lord help me to remember you sent your son not just for me, but for all of mankind that we might all repent and come to know you. That means all those over there in the middle east that are fighting against your chosen people. I cannot help but wonder how many of the Israelites that are Jews and still have not received your amazing gift yet. I pray for them as well that they may come to know you.

Good Night and God Bless!

Sixty-six

Thursday the 8th... I worked with TF, another very fun day of recon, smiles, joy and helping people.

What I read Exodus 16...

The Lord's people are murmuring and he provides them manna and quail to eat. The Lord hears our grumbling and when we murmur, it is against him... Lord I do not want to be a person that grumbles against you. Especially for all the good you have done for me. You are amazing and I am so lucky to have you bless my life so abundantly with life, with friends, with family, with a job, with a place to live, with food to eat, with healthcare. Thank you for taking care of me Lord, in all the people you watch a look after I am so grateful to be under your covering. Thank you lord. Please as my heart strays or my mind wanders from you, please continually pull me back under your safe covering. I long to live for you.

Good Night and God Bless!

Sixty-five...

Wednesday the 7th... Not really sure what I did, but I know I worked...

What I read Exodus 15...

A song unto the Lord...

“I will sing to the LORD,
for he is highly exalted.
Both horse and driver
he has hurled into the sea.

² “The LORD is my strength and my defense;
he has become my salvation.
He is my God, and I will praise him,
my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
³ The LORD is a warrior;
the LORD is his name.
⁴ Pharaoh’s chariots and his army
he has hurled into the sea.
The best of Pharaoh’s officers
are drowned in the Red Sea.
⁵ The deep waters have covered them;
they sank to the depths like a stone.
⁶ Your right hand, LORD,
was majestic in power.
Your right hand, LORD,
shattered the enemy.

⁷ “In the greatness of your majesty
you threw down those who opposed you.
You unleashed your burning anger;
it consumed them like stubble.
⁸ By the blast of your nostrils
the waters piled up.
The surging waters stood up like a wall;
the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea.
⁹ The enemy boasted,
‘I will pursue, I will overtake them.
I will divide the spoils;
I will gorge myself on them.
I will draw my sword
and my hand will destroy them.’
¹⁰ But you blew with your breath,
and the sea covered them.
They sank like lead
in the mighty waters.
¹¹ Who among the gods
is like you, LORD?
Who is like you—
majestic in holiness,
awesome in glory,
working wonders?

¹² “You stretch out your right hand,
and the earth swallows your enemies.
¹³ In your unfailing love you will lead
the people you have redeemed.
In your strength you will guide them
to your holy dwelling.
¹⁴ The nations will hear and tremble;
anguish will grip the people of Philistia.
¹⁵ The chiefs of Edom will be terrified,
the leaders of Moab will be seized with trembling,
the people of Canaan will melt away;
¹⁶ terror and dread will fall on them.
By the power of your arm
they will be as still as a stone—
until your people pass by, LORD,
until the people you bought pass by.
¹⁷ You will bring them in and plant them
on the mountain of your inheritance—
the place, LORD, you made for your dwelling,
the sanctuary, Lord, your hands established.

¹⁸ “The LORD reigns
for ever and ever.”

¹⁹ When Pharaoh’s horses, chariots and horsemen went into the sea, the LORD brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground.²⁰ Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her, with timbrels and dancing. ²¹ Miriam sang to them:

“Sing to the LORD,
for he is highly exalted.
Both horse and driver
he has hurled into the sea.”

I love the enthusiasm of the people and their desire to sing to the Lord, sure they grumbled right before they sang this and their are about to murmur and grumble again against the Lord in the passages to come, but here is the heart of man that I want to be like. It is awesome to know that the Lord really does cover us and take care of us and no matter how awful are voice may sound to other men, to God it is a joyful noise, heck that is why he has angels who sing over his head Holy Holy Holy... haha... he probably hears the angels beautiful singing and thus he can overlook are noise that is joyful... maybe it's like the bagpipe... the missing link between music and noise.... haha I guess I am just a silly little Scot that loves the sound of a bagpipe but it can sound awful to those who do not like the boisterous music it makes, but if you have the beautiful singing of an angel in your ear any other sounds you hear will just be beautiful background noise. So here's to the Israelites a beautiful, joyful background noise. :D

Good Night and God Bless

Sixty-four...

Tuesday the 6th... Back to the work grind... :)

What I read Exodus 14...

The people of Israel were in the desert on the side of the Red Sea and then the Egyptians came and overtook them as they camped... the people cried out of Moses and to God and wanted to serve the Egyptians rather than die... how different we think today in America... give me liberty or give me death... If I cannot live in freedom I do not want to live at all... the complete opposite of what the Israelites were asking... give us life, whether in servitude, but do not let us die. This was the whole of the Israelites as it were... if Pharaoh was to overtake them here, that would be the end of God's choosen people... how grateful I am that the Lord's plans are greater than our own, and he did not allow the people to die, nor did he allow them to serve the Egyptians any longer... I love what Moses says to the people...

v.13 Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.

The Lord took care of them, he led them across the Red Sea and trapped all the Egyptians by drowning them and the people never did see those Egyptians again for they all died. The were delivered through the dry ground, with water on both sides and made it safely to the other side of the sea. I love this... to have lived through this time would have been hard but also it brought great joy. I think that is just such a blessing to be part of that kind of work that the Lord did. However in v. 14 I love that Moses tells them to be still and the Lord will fight for them. They needed to do nothing but walk... How often do I get up daily and all I need to do is just get up and go to work and the Lord will take care of the rest, The Lord truly does take care of me I see it daily in the way, I am down here in San Antonio, I had safe travels on my flights, I may have been a bit delayed, but even the people of Israel were taken on a slight bit longer flight and had a couple lay overs. The Lord has a destination in mind for us, but sometimes we just need to be stuck on a layover somewhere so that he can teach us something to allow for the next flight to go smoother. No one wants to stay in Egypt, no one wants to be in the world if you have the Lord with you. For to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. How I look forward to that day, but till it comes I pray that I can get as many people as I can to come with me. I am invincible till the day he is done with me.

Good Night and God Bless

Sixty- three...

Monday the 5th... Coffee with daddy, hang out with sister, lunch with the family, mom and dad drove me to the airport off to San Antonio.... Flight to Sacramento... plane change... flight to Las Vegas... un-predicted plan change and flight to San Antonio.... taxi cab home... and to bed with me.

What I read Exodus 13...

So much happens in this chapter but I love the work that he does in the people... he has the Hebrews sacrifice all their firstborns and redeem their sons so that they may tell the story of how the Lord worked in the lives of the people and delivered them.. So that they could tell their children that

v. 14 "In days to come, when your son asks you, "What does this mean?" say to him, 'With a mighty hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 15 When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed the firstborn of both people and animals in Egypt. This is why I sacrifice to the LORD the first male offspring of every womb and redeem each of my firstborn sons.' 16 And it will be like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead that the LORD brought us out of Egypt with his mighty hand."

I love that the Lord always has a plan, he had this in mind, when he allowed the Egyptians and the Israelites to endureth the plagues... So awesome are his plans. This is also why he led them towards the Red Sea, for if they had gone through the land of the Phillistine country which was faster, they might have faced war and just fallen back into slavery, because they might change their minds. The Lord knows that we are weak and feeble without him, that we need him to take care of us. With God I can beat sin, but without him, I fall right back into my sin and my fleshly tendencies... So frustrating... but that is why the Lord allowed the law to show us that we literally can do nothing with him, but with him, anything is possible that is an awesome thought. I love that he takes care of them and he leads them with a pillar of a cloud during the day and by a pillar of fire at night, so that can continually escape from the Egyptians...

v. 22 Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.

- The Lord is always there for us, guiding are way by day and night. He always will take care of us and I am so thankful for that. I love this story... I know it's morbid and it's sad and its somewhat slightly magical in it's could that be true... but it was and it is there for us to read and hear of the mighty hand of God. So glad am I that I am kept in his hand and not under his fist.

Good Night and God Bless!

Sixty two...

Sunday the 4th... Church in the morning, brunch with the fam, later went to hang out with my sister at her place and went through some of her clothes, which I am excited about getting my care package... :) Then I went the church with my brother and then we went to watch a movie at the guy's house... It was a good time. I'm glad I got to spend time with my family and church family on sunday... That is what sunday's were made for. After the movie I went home and to bed with me.

What I read Exodus 12...
The Passover... this is the first month of your year. The 10th day of this month is to take a lamb and to sacrifice it, it will be a year old male, and then on the 14th of the month, put the blood of the lamb on door frame and then with unleavened bread, and eat the food in haste and eat it all if anything is left, burn it. The blood is to be a sign to passover and the plague will passover you and your first born son will not die. The Lord gives them more instructions for the passover... At Midnight the destroyer went through the land of Egypt and all those who had did not have blood at the top and both sides of the door frame, their children will be protected by the Lord. The Lord takes care of those who fear him, he even struck down the first of the livestock. During the night Pharaoh sent Moses away and the Israelites. They left in haste and they plundered the Egyptians... 600,000 men on foot left Egypt...

I cannot imagine the sight that must have occurred here, the pain, the devastation, the fear, the sadness and the anger that must have ensued would have been so overwhelming in the land. Oh to be but a fly on the wall, when this took place to see the people rally together to leave Egypt with so much gold and silver and livestock to leave the Egyptians with what would appear nothing... I cannot imagine the pain that must have occurred for all the people here. Not only for the Egyptians but for the Israelites, what a God we serve that in an instant all the first born children are dead in an instant, how insignificant we are, how mortal our lives are, how quickly are lives can pass in a second, it is evident even in the world that we live in now... People die instantly in a car crash, in a plane crash, in 9/11, not one of those passengers thought, this will be the flight that ends my life... at least I definitely would not have been thinking that. The Lord is mighty, but he is just and he allowed Pharaoh repentance, not just one time but several times... and still he hardened his heart. Sure God hardened it as well, but the Lord would not have hardened it if he had thought that Pharaoh would not have hardened it himself... He knows our intentions, our thoughts, our hopes, and our hearts. That is how we chose him, because he first chose us.... I am so blessed that he gave me a heart that yearns to please him and desires to know him more. I am so happy for all the joy that he allows me and even that pain that he brings... For he is alpha father and he knows exactly what I need and when I need it and I am so much better for it.

Good Night and God Bless.

Sixty-one

Saturday the 3rd... Marissa and I got up around 6 and played together and then mom got up and made her a bottle and then not too much later she went back down for her nap... I went to coffee with my padre and then I invited Katie over for waffles in the morning... I got ready for Amanda and Donovan's wedding... then I met my hot date MK at SB before the wedding, which we went to and had a ton of fun... it was a gorgeous wedding and I was happy that I got to be there and be a part of it. They both looked so happy and Amanda was beautiful!! After the wedding, we both left and went home and that night I went home I think I just spent some good ol' family time together.... truth be told I cant fully remember what we did.

What I read Exodus 11...

Plague of the first born... The Lord already knew that this would be the last straw that Pharaoh would drive out all the Israelites... So the Lord, gave Moses instructions to prepare for the night... I love what the Lord says in v. 9 "Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you -so that my wonders may be multiplies in Egypt" The Lord made it clear, this work that he was doing in Egypt was not just for the people of Israel but for the people of Egypt and for all the neighboring countries that were watching what was going on in Egypt. People feared Moses and even Pharaoh's officials looked upon him with regard, I wonder how many of the officials we will see in Heaven, because of the work that the Lord did there, or how many people believed because of all the wonders that the Lord performed through Moses and Aaron... I wonder how many people will come to know the Lord, because of my life story or because of how I live my life. I wonder how many people actually take notice of the way I live my life... well if in fact even one person is watching I hope I have the ability to live it out for the Lord in abundance.

Good Night and God Bless

Sixty

Friday the 2nd... Today all us girls, my mom, sister and my neice and I all went to get our nails done... It was an enjoyable experience all us girls hanging out... My mom even branched out and got another color besides pink it was quite a shocker! haha.. Love you mom... Then we got some SB to go... and then we drove to my parents house where Mom watched Marissa so my sister and I could go get Tattoo's together... when we got to the place in Canby, done by Kyle's cousin... it was sweet because his daughter was there a super cutie and really chill. She did get a little upset when we started to get our tattoo's done... Overall, we both got the tattoo that we wanted and it was a successful sister adventure. We had an awesome family dinner and that night my mom and I babysat Marissa and we had a fun night us girls, bath time, toy time and reading with Auntie Chelle and then bed time... Oh and she only woke up twice! YAY!

What I read Exodus 10...

So the Lord Brings more plagues... the plague of locusts that will cover everything... Finally even the officials wanted Moses and his people to go, they were destroying everything in the land of Egypt, however, when Pharaoh found out that all the Hebrews and the livestock were going to go. He said that they couldn't go again. So the Lord brought the locusts... How often do we do this in our lives... we want to live for the Lord and he asks us to give all of ourselves... and then we say we will give you this much of our lives but do we have to give all of our lives. After the Lord took away the locusts then Pharaoh's heart was hardened. Then the plague of darkness, a darkness that can be felt. How weird to be trapped inside without light, without sight, without the warmth of the sun. Living down in San Antonio, I have become quite a fan of the sun and it's warmth and it's light that it brings. I forget sometimes how dark the world can become when we have thunderstorms or at night how dark it can get in the country when there is cloud cover and no light in the world... the idea of being trapped in darkness for 3 whole days I think would be slightly terrifying... It was one thing when the men were trapped in the cave for multiple days, they were brought food and water till they were brought up... but they were in a cave, they knew no light could get to them... But to be outside in absolute darkness, a darkness that could be felt that would be Hell to me... the idea of feeling alone, no warmth, no light to see what is around me to feel the depth of the darkness around me would be absolutely terrifying to be in for 10 minutes let alone 3 whole days... no wonder Pharaoh was so mad that he told Moses to get out of his sight. He felt the darkness and was deeply impacted by it. There are people who I think make you feel darkness and there are those that allow you to feel light. The people you light up your life are those that you are drawn to. I want to be a person of light and light up the world, I do not ever want to feel darkness. May I be a light unto the world as your word is light unto my path.

Good Night and God Bless.

Fifty-five...

Sunday the 28th... I went to work so I missed out on church :( However, I did get to hang out with some pretty sweet people and listen to some music while at work. After work I was craving some companionship so I invited some friends over to watch a movie and for pizza. I ended up having a couple friends come over RV and AP, she also brought her dog, we had pizza and watched Hercules... yes the disney movie... it was vastly entertaining, because neither of them had ever seen it before... which slightly baffled me. Since, I am pretty sure there is no disney movie I have not seen. haha... I truly am a kid at heart.

What I read Exodus 5...

So Moses and Aaron go to Pharaoh and tell him to let the Hebrews go so that they may go and worship and sacrifice to their Lord in the wilderness... However Pharaoh then gives the slave drivers orders to no longer give straw to the men working, and that they must still make the bricks, by gathering their own straw. He calls them lazy and he asks of them to go out and gather their own straw instead of worshiping and sacrificing to the Lord... The Hebrews then go to Moses and Aaron and are angry for the extra work that Pharaoh given them that they in turn attribute to Moses and Aaron brought this extra work upon them. At the end of the chapter Moses cries out to God asking why he sent him to do this work if it is causing more burdens upon the people of Israel. It seems that even back then they wanted change to come immediately. No one ever seems to want to wait for change, yet that seems to be the only way that the Lord delivers it and not only that but he also seems to have things get worse before they ever get better. You have to be truly fallen and broken and unable to get up on your own, before the Lord will pick you up and pull you out of the pit. It seems that in order for us to be truly for the Lord we have to be truly broken by the Lord. He breaks the flesh in us the desires of evil things the things that are no good for us. The people do not like their work, but it is livable, they need to see that they truly need the Lord before he will deliver them. So many times I just want him to make my life rosy and perfect... Then I realize if I never experienced the miry pit and being broken for the Lord... how would I ever appreciate how amazing the great times are with him. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away and he should always be praised no matter the situation.

Good Night and God Bless!

Fifty-nine...

Thursday the 1st... I woke up and went to get coffee with my sister in the morning and then we went to go shopping down at Woodburn outlet mall, we stopped at my mom's job to say hi to her before going shopping... Shopping was a very enjoyable experience, Marissa did a lot better than she did the last time we went shopping... I got a lot of really awesome new outfits. We then got lunch at Arby's and went to drop off some sandwich's from mom and one of the other ladies she works with... Then after shopping... I went home and then came over later with Jonathan to watch Marissa... we watched some episodes of How I met your mother and just spent some good ole family time together... Jonathan and I drove up to Portland to meet up with a couple of my friends IR and MN, we did a scavenger hunt, we didn't stay for the prizes, but it was fun. I kind of was too slow and got left in the dark... but that's what happens when you're not a speed demon running at top notch speeds. It was good though... I had fun and I met up with them at the end. Then after the run... Jonathan and I drove home to watch Marissa so Katie could go to the airport to pick up Kyle from the airport. We had fun sleeping over at Katie's it was like a slumber party with all the siblings together... Yay!

What I read Exodus 9...

The Lord sends 3 more plagues, the plague of livestock, all the Egyptian livestock died but no one of the Hebrews livestock did, the plague of boils, the dust became boils on the Egyptians and even the Egyptian priests would not come face Moses and Aaron for they were in too much pain, and then the next plague was the plague of hail, where all those that feared the Lord, whether Egyptian or Hebrew those who kept all their livestock and slaves inside did not perish, but those who did not fear the Lord or heed their advice their livestock and slaves perished.... where did they get all this livestock if they just had all of them die? They probably sent for them and bought them off of neighboring towns or foreigners or perhaps bought them from the Hebrews... whatever the case they had livestock again that was dying yet again... Before the hailstorm is sent though, Moses goes to him in the morning and explains what the Lord has said of them...

This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let my people go, so that they may worhsip me, 14 or this time I will send the full force of my plagues against you and your officials and your people, so you may know that there is no one like me in all the earth. 15 For by now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with a plague that would have wiped you off the earth. 16 But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.

I love how blunt the Lord is with Pharaoh, you may think you are the sun and that the earth rises and sets to you, but I AM about to show you something amazing I can control the weather if you have not already seen my power, see this, know this.. I can blink you off of the face of the earth, but I am using you for my plan that you may know me and others may know me... What an amazing God he is that he allows us such insight into his plans for the people. He tells us why he is allowing all of these plagues, why he is hardening the heart of Pharaoh, he wants everyone to know him, he wants all to know there is none like him, he wants all to turn to him and he wants all to follow him. He truly is a loving father that he allows so many plagues to occur is to get more people to come to know him. If I was one of the Egyptian priests, when the Lord did the sign of the gnats I think they knew he was LORD... yet still they feared Pharaoh more than God. How often do we fear men or others and not the Lord and thus we do not do what the Lord has commanded of us for fear of what others may think.... I serve an audience of one and thus I have to keep reminding myself... When I get to the pearly gate, little Suzzie or crazy tommy or whatever Tom, Dick or Harry, will not be there to decide whether or not I enter the kingdom of Heaven, but Jesus will be there, God will be the Holy Spirit will be there and I don't want my fear of what others might think preventing me from getting to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. HE IS the one who controls it all and I shall fear him above all.

Good Night and God Bless

Fifty-eight..

Wednesday the 31st... Leave for Oregon.... the cab picked me up at 5 in the morning for my 6:45am flight... I got on my flight from san antonio to las vegas. After a 2 hour layover I got on my flight from Las Vegas to Portland, OR. I made it in around 12, and my sister, brother and my neice were waiting for me... We drove back into Canby and went to get some coffee and then went to see my grandparents... who I am afraid might have been more excited to see my neice than me... Oh well I am no longer a super cute baby, who can complete with a living baby doll... After a nice long visit I went back to my parents house with my brother and I saw my puppy, who was apparently having diarrhea... We took him to the vet at 4 and then my mom met us there... After the vet visit I went to church and got to surprise a bunch of my friends... it was a lovely night of seeing people again... and then after church I went to buffalo wild wings with some friends... because I was starving... then I went home and got to see my father!! It was a great day to come home... I forget sometimes how much I miss these people. They are amazing and I love them dearly!!

What I read Exodus 8...

It just keeps getting better and better... the next wonder that Aaron and Moses did was instead of blood in the Nile, now frogs would come out of the land from everywhere and yet again the Egyptian priests copied it... and produced the same... but the frogs were so numerous that for the first time Pharaoh summoned Moses to pray to his God to take the frogs away.... it would appear that Pharaoh is finally seeing the light. However, once Pharaoh got relief from the lack of frogs his heart was again hardened. Then the Lord made gnats come from all the dust in the Land and this was the first sign that the Egyptian priests could not replicate, even they stated this is the act of God, but Pharaoh was still angry, yet again the Lord releases another sign upon Pharaoh and the Egyptians and this time he makes a distinction between his people and the Egyptians... he sends only flies in the homes and lands of the Egyptians and in the land of Goshen where all the Hebrews live, not a fly could be found.... Well, yet again Pharaoh asks Moses to pray to rid them of the flies and says that they may go into the wilderness and worship and make sacrifices to their God... however once the flies are gone he changes his mind yet again. What a fickle fickle man Pharaoh is yet... how much are we just like him... when times are going down the tubes and all we can do is ask people to pray for us or give it all to the Lord, we start to have a sense of peace and then we think we can take it all back on again, and yet again we are burdened by the heavy load so we give it back to the Lord and so it goes, give and take, give and take, hard times to good times, hard times to good times. I think the Lord knows our hearts and this story is so much more than just the people of Egypt and Israel this about people today this story was written to be read by people in my church, by my family and most of all by me. I need to hear the Lords plans for my lives, I need to give him complete control of my life and not try to retake on my burdens when the reason I gave them all to him, was because I was drowning from them... His word, his stories, his love is just astounding to me on how he shows the good news in the Bible... I could probably read any story in the Bible and find the gospel message there. That is how amazing HE IS!

Good Night and God Bless!

Fifty-seven...

Tuesday the 30th... Another day of work... I then met up with a friend after and went to get frozen yogurt after work TP a new friend that I will be getting to know better, because we are both going to be working with the sophmore girls in the high school group. After having a really awesome conversation, I went back home and packed for my trip home... YAY!!!

What I read Exodus 7...

So, I love that the Lord continues to repeat and repeat his promise. I think he does that because we are fickle people and too often we do not want to undergo the hard times and we lose sight of what is really important that he plans to rescue us from our turmoil and despair. 2 of the miracles are displayed to Pharaoh, he first turns the staff into a snake and when the Egyptian priests do it too, Aaron's staff snake eats up the other too... I really kind of wonder how they turned that staff into a snake... I think they had a little black magic or evil on their side, allowing Satan to show his hand of trying to be as cool as God. Because then the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart and allowed Moses and Aaron to perform the next wonder of turning the Nile and all of the water into blood... when the priests duplicated it... I wonder what water they used... if all the water had just previously been turned to blood, I mean there was no bottle water to use to prove it... did they just grab water from the Nile and as the Lord turned it all into blood, they took credit for the Lords miracle... who really knows... but this whole part I would love to watch on DVD in heaven one day. I wonder who actually dug the wells to get water since they could not drink the water of the Nile... I bet it was the Hebrews... thus more work was falling on the Hebrews and more anger the people grew and Pharaoh's heart remained hardened by the Lord. I used to get made at God when I read this as a kid, why if God wants all men to turn from sin and come to him, why would he harden anyone heart from him... but the truth be told, he knew Pharaoh's heart before he was a twinkle in his mother's eye and he knew that Pharaoh would not be receptive to the words of Moses and Aaron and also because for the Lord to have the huge impact on all the Egyptians and Hebrews and other people that were in the land hearing this or seeing this or sending water to Egypt or even people like me who are reading this thousands of years later, it allows us to see the power of God and how he can work in our lives. He is so awesome!

Good Night and God Bless!

Fifty-six....

Monday the 29th... I worked again... it was a very enjoyable day of work. :)

What I read Exodus 6...

The Lord again tells his plan to Moses and to not be swayed by the people in their turmoil he will bring them out of the land of Egypt. I love the promise that he makes...

v.6 "Therefore, say to the Israelites: "I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. 7 I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. 8 And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the LORD."

What an outstanding promise... to give to the people all of which is already promised to them. To redeem them. To save them from their oppressor... to help them... and in truth though it would not be immediate or instantaneous... it would be extremely faster than the rest of the promise to give the people the land promised to them.... heck in some ways it would seem that the people are still waiting on the Lord to give them all of the land that was promised to them. The Lord definitely moves on his own time table, however, he is amazing in all that he does and shows to the people of Egypt and the Israelites.

Fifty four...

Saturday the 27th... I had my first time meeting with all the counselors of the high school group. We are going to be starting the book of Mark and I am really excited about all the new stuff that is going on with it. Then after the meeting I cam back to my place and cleaned my apartment extensively... it was amazing! Then I went to meet up with some friends from work at a wine and cheese party... I had a lot of fun and I tried a couple different types of wines and surprisingly I found a couple that I really liked. I had fun playing with one of my coworkers daughters... she was adorable. We bonded over angry birds and bubble buster. Overall it was a very enjoyable day.

What I read Exodus 4...

Moses' calling to speak to the people of Israel and Pharaoh is elaborated, God gives him 3 signs to show, the first is when his staff becomes a snake, the second is when is hand become leprous and then restored again, and the last is when he will take water from the Nile and it will become blood. Moses argues with God, saying he cannot speak to the people or to Pharaoh, so he appoints Aaron to be the mouth of which Moses will use to speak the words of God. How terrifying to get your life job and to feel you are inadequate and unworthy of the position that God has called you too... So often I myself feel nervous and inadequate of what he is choosing to do in my life. Too often I am asking him to use me... and then saying oh but not for that Lord. I can totally relate to Moses in this way. Another thing that always gets me, is the Lord tells Moses even before he gets there that he is going to harden Pharaoh's heart and he will not let the people go... He knows ahead of time, he is going to get shut down... he doesn't know yet how many times, he doesn't know all the plagues that he is going to bring upon them, he doesn't know that the people of Israel will soon hate him for what will happen... but he does know he is about to encounter some serious distrust from Pharaoh and a hardening of heart from the Lord himself...Well, Moses goes back to camp and tells his father in law and him and his wife head out to Egypt for the Pharaoh that wanted to kill him has died and he will meet Aaron along the road to Egypt... However, also along the road to Egypt the Lord goes to kill Moses for he has not kept the covenant of Abraham by circumcising his son... well we don't know how old his son was, nor do we know what he thought, when his Mom cut off his foreskin, but Zipporrah weather intune to God or maybe told by God to protect her Husband circumcises her son. So, she was at least aware of the Hebrew traditions though she was not raised as such. My favorite is the end of the story after Aaron and Moses are united and show the people of Israel the miracles and tell them of all they will do... They believe! Amazing... I sometimes wish I had the ability to perform miracles.. however, that appears to be not on my list of abilities the Lord has blessed me with... at least not in the way he allowed Moses to perform miracles... oh well... there's still time. He might be holding out on me.. ;) or not... whatever the case may be... I love the willingness to go and meet Aaron and before the chapter is over... they have shown the people of Israel... a lot to be learned by Moses and Aaron, men of God. Help me to be a woman of God and to follow your ways and to listen to do your will when you call me even if I don't think I am the right person for the job.

Good Night and God Bless.

Fifty Three...

Friday the 26th... I worked yet again.... :)

What I read Exodus 3...

The famous burning bush scene... Moses sees the burning bush while out tending the flocks... He goes to look at the bush and then the Lord speaks to him through the bush... How crazy to get your life calling from God through a burning bush... The Lord works in mysterious ways... however, he knows what works for each of us. Perhaps what if the Lord decided to give me my calling in a burning bush... My first thought would be to throw water on it and stop the burning... the Lord perhaps knew the best means to speak to Moses, for he was out tending his flocks, when he came upon the burning bush, however a burning bush probably was common sight in the dessert when the sun comes out a little spark and voila you have a burning bush... but the fact that the bush was being rebuilt by the fire and not destroyed by it was what drew him in, I suppose that would make anyone look... However, you I look closely enough to see that. The Lord definitely meets us where we are at. That is for sure and so cool the way he works in our lives. I am so excited to see God in the small things.. the I AM... I was thinking the other day about all the I AM statements that Jesus fulfilled in the new testament of all that God is... it never ceases to astound me to just try to name a couple of all that he is. He is overall amazing in my book... He is the way, the truth, and the life, he is love, he is peace, he is father, he all knowing, he is all powerful, he is the word, he is infinite... the list goes on. When you stop to ponder all that he is... you see how much he truly is... for he is the I AM. (I'm not sure how much sense that makes to you, but that statement kind of gets me excited.)

He IS the I AM

Good Night and God Bless.

Fifty-two...

Thursday the 25th... I worked again... :)

What I read Exodus 2...

Well, this chapter is quite action packed unlike my work day, however, I did get a friendly smile. In this chapter Moses is born, his mother hides him until he is 3 months old, which in and of itself sounds crazy to me... how to do you hide a newborn, the only way they talk is by crying, plus your with them all the time... and people saw you were pregnant and now you're not... How she hid him I don't know but God took care of him... Little did she know she was going to following Pharaoh's order and throw him into the Nile, granted he'd be in a basket and watched by his sister till he made it to Pharaoh's sister, where he was taken care of, Pharaoh obviously probably did not approve because later he wants to kill him... He is nursed by his own mother and then grows up only to kill an Egyptian that was attacking a Hebrew like all Egyptians act toward Hebrews as I understand it in chapter 1, then he runs away once his sin is found out because Pharaoh wants him dead... He ends up in Midian married to Zipporrah and has a kid, after saving the daughters of the priest of Midian. He gets accepted into the family, just like that? Many years have obviously passed and then the people of Isreal are crying out to God under the oppression of the Egyptians... well... God hears their cries and remembers the people. So much happens in this chapter it is hard to focus on just one area. I love that the Lord hears the people... So often we cry out to the Lord in times of hardships and we feel like all we are doing is crying... but he hears us... every time, every second, every thought, every word that is uttered he hears... he knows he remembers and he desires to take care of us. Sometimes the Lord does not answer right away because he is working on a plan... like he was working on Moses to become the deliverer of the people of Israel. It takes years to fulfill Gods perfect plan... So, do not be discouraged in waiting and because the Lord is working in you and is perfecting you to be the woman of Christ that he desires you to be. This is mostly for myself... because in a world where we want everything as fast as it can happen... he lives in a timeless existence where it can take years for us but perhaps just seconds to him... His plans do not run on our timeline... Remember that next time you are praying for something to change in your heart... he's already started working on cutting away that very area your praying out.

Good Night and God Bless!

Fifty-one...

Wednesday the 24th... I worked and then after work I met up with a friend SH that was going out of town and did karaoke with her and a few other people TS, WB, RV, some other people I work with. It was a really fun night, we had a lot of fun.

What I read Exodus 1...

Well... Joesph died at the end of Genesis 50... a sad fact but I am starting a new book and I am excited to read about the story of Moses... but first the background... A new king came and saw that the Israelites had become great.... their way to deal with them was to oppress them and make them the slaves of Israel. Then when the Israelites continued to increase, Pharaoh, ordered midwives to kill the baby boys, and when that didn't work, he sent out an order that all Hebrew boys must be thrown in the Nile and let the girls live.... they end of chapter 1.... I guess the part that really hit me was that the midwives feared the Lord and the hebrews were growing in number and being fruitful... all I see and hear here is that the Lord was working in these people's lives so much that they continued to increase, even in times of turmoil when they were being seriously oppressed for the only reason that people were jealous of them... instead of turning from their God's and joining them they oppressed them... How often when life is going well, do those that do not understand our faith judge us and try to tear us down, because they are envious of all the good work the Lord is doing in our lives... as we go through trials and turmoil continue to be fruitful and grow because you fear God and not man... I hope I heed my own words... for sometimes the words come out so easily.. but the actions rarely follow quickly and sometimes quite delayed in reaction. Do a great work in my life that I may be a light unto the world. In your name I pray.

Good Night and God Bless!

Forty Nine...

Monday the 22nd... I went to Austin with a friend, AP and her new doggy, we did breakfast and then we went paddle boarding and then we went walked around and had lunch at Whole foods and walked around lady bird lake and then we got gelato for the ride home... Later after getting home and in dire need of a nap my friend RV called me with car troubles so I ended up hanging out with him and calling AAA to try to get his car fixed... eventually we got a jump from the mall security and then all was good... So, that was an interesting night.

What I read... Genesis 49

I love the blessing that Israel give Joseph...

²² “Joseph is a fruitful vine,

a fruitful vine near a spring,
whose branches climb over a wall.
²³ With bitterness archers attacked him;
they shot at him with hostility.
²⁴ But his bow remained steady,
his strong arms stayed limber,
because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob,
because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,
²⁵ because of your father’s God, who helps you,
because of the Almighty,who blesses you
with blessings of the skies above,
blessings of the deep springs below,
blessings of the breast and womb.
²⁶ Your father’s blessings are greater
than the blessings of the ancient mountains,
than the bounty of the age-old hills.
Let all these rest on the head of Joseph,
on the brow of the prince among his brothers.

I think the blessing of his father Israel is not only applying to the biological father but also the spiritual father that is the word of God.... I know this is really deep for me right, the word of God is Jesus and the story of Joseph is very similar to that of Jesus and the father of Israel as the nation is God and so is the father of Jesus. I just love the way that the Lord reveals himself to children through his word, aka his son. May the Lord bless you through his word as well. :)

Good Night and God Bless!

Forty Eight...

Sunday the 21st... went to church, came home, cleaned, went for a walk to SB.

What I read...Genesis 48

Jacob is dying and his eyesight is bad and Joseph comes to visit him and brings his 2 sons and when Jacob/Israel blesses him Israel places his right hand on the head of Ephraim and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, so Joseph becomes displeased and goes to move his fathers hands so that the right hand is on Manasseh and his left is on Ephraim. But in his old age, it would appear that though he could not see well he had the blessing of the Lord that Ephraim would be a greater nation than that of his older brother. Perhaps because I am a second child, I always enjoy seeing the second child being blessed above that of the first, but I think that comes back to basic sibling rivalry, for I honestly am so glad for my older sister, she helped me in times when I did not know what to expect, she led me in the right direction. I am so glad for my older sister, she is amazing and if she is reading this, “I love you sooo much!!” I wonder what the feeling of Manasseh and Ephraim were, did Manasseh resent his younger brother as Joseph’s older brothers resented him. I guess will never know. However, I think the reason that the Lord saw to use the younger over the older, was perhaps his love of using the small and unlearned to confound the wise. If everything always happened just as we thought, then what fun would living be. Perhaps in the infinite omnipotent knowledge of the Lord, he gave Israel a dream that the children of Joseph the younger would become greater than that of the older. Just a thought. :)

Forty Seven...

Saturday the 20th.... I cleaned my apartment, slept in and went shopping to get some food to cook for the dinner that I went to. It was fun, I was the youngest, by about 10 years, in fact some of then even had children around my age. I am not entirely sure what it says about me. But overall, the day was a good one. After the dinner, I came home and watched a movie and then went to bed.

What I read... Genesis 47

The faminie in the land became so bad that the people of Egypt and Canaan had sold everything to Pharaoh, they sold all their money and belongings, their cattle, sheep and goats, their land as well as themselves. They became in bondage to Pharaoh at their own hands, because they wanted to live. I think this is such a great picture of how we should live for Christ. He died for us, he gave us eternal life, we should give ourselves to him, for he has allowed for us to live. As the people became in bondage to Pharaoh, I want to become in bondage to Christ. Life that has been given to us is so blessed