Category: Family

God is My Witness and My Judge – 2025 Day 171 – Numbers 5:1-6:21

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Read through the Bible in 2 years: Psalm 139, Numbers 5:1-6:21

Growing up my dad and my grandfather were both lawyers, I participated in mock trial and debate, and I watched countless episodes of Judge Wapner presiding over “The People’s Court.” 😄 I saw the importance of having a good judge as well as good witnesses and good evidence. The judge could only rule so far as the witnesses and evidence proved the case. Without good witnesses and good evidence, you couldn’t win.

In reading the very strange passage in Numbers 5 about how a jealous husband was to prove his wife either innocent or guilty of adultery, I was reminded of how often men and women simply don’t know what is true. In the case of adultery, there will always be at least one witness – the man or woman who you are with – but there is also another witness: God. We may not know what someone else is up to behind closed doors or in the dark of night, but we can trust beyond a shadow of a doubt that God does.

God knows the secret thoughts of our hearts,
and God knows the secret deeds of our bodies.

Is that scary to think about? Yes, frankly, it is. But it is also so very freeing. I don’t need to snoop through my husband’s online history or the pockets of his pants. I don’t need to dig through his trash or his wallet. I don’t need to track his driving history or figure out his whereabouts every minute of the day. Why? Because God always sees him, even when I don’t.

God is not only the perfect judge, He is also the perfect witness. He can judge perfectly, because He knows everyone’s heart and everyone’s motives, everyone’s thoughts and everyone’s actions. He can place blame with perfect righteousness and justice because He knows exactly what happened. He knows who said what. He knows the way of escape that He provided. He knows how your conscience was pricked. He knows it all.

If your life has been touched by the sins of fornication, lust, and adultery, then you know how far-reaching their tentacles can spread. As is often the case, the sins of others can lead you to into the snares of sin in your own life – the sins of bitterness, anger, jealousy, suspicion, manipulation, and the list goes on. Let me encourage you with the words of Peter, “Do not repay evil for evil or reviling with reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing” (1 Peter 3:9) and the words of Paul, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21)

I pray that we would take the higher road, the road of blessing and good, that we would live the more excellent way, the way of love. Love is patient and kind. Love does not envy or boast. It is not proud; it is not rude; it is not self-seeking; it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. (1 Corinthians 13:4-6)

I pray that we would be like the model wife of Proverbs 31, that our husbands could truly trust us because we are faithful to do them good and not harm all the days of our life, that strength and dignity would be our clothing, that we would be able laugh at the times to come because we have such great faith in God. I pray that we would open our mouths with wisdom and that the teaching of kindness would always be on our tongues. (Proverbs 31:10-11, 25-26)

I pray that we would be 1 Peter 3 wives, bravely being subject to our own husbands, so that even if they do not obey the word, they might be won without a word by our respectful and pure conduct. I pray that our radiant beauty would come from the inside out, that the imperishable beauty of a gentle, quiet spirit would glow from within us. I pray that we would be holy women whose hope is in God, faithfully doing good and not fearing anything that is frightening.

Dear sisters, someday your boyfriend, your husband, your sons and daughters, will appear before the judgment seat of God. Someday their secret things will be judged. Someday what was hidden in the dark will be brought into the light.

But that isn’t only true for them;
it’s also true for us.
Our hearts and our lives
will be laid bare before Him, too.

What will He find there? What will He unearth in our hearts? What will He witness in watching how we chose to live our lives?

Will He find bitterness, wrath, envy, and jealousy … or peace, faith, hope, and contentment?

Let’s pray.

Heavenly Father, You are the perfect judge, and You are the perfect witness. No one is hidden from your sight. Someday everything hidden will be brought into the light. I pray that my faith would be in You and not in me. I am so weak, Lord. I am so prone to wander, to leave the God I love. Help me, please. I need You. Give me Your strength. Help me to overcome evil with good because You are good and I am Your child. Help me to repay wrong with blessing because that is the example that You gave to me, that You loved me while I was yet a sinner. Help me to go and do likewise. Guide me step by steap in the way that I should go. In the matchless name of Jesus Christ, my Savior and Brother, my Friend and Lord, I pray. Amen.

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it. Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you.

– Psalm 139:1-12 ESV

“They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.”

– Romans 2:15-16 ESV

“Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.”

– 1 Corinthians 4:5 ESV

“So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”

– 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 ESV

And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.””

– Revelation 21:6-8 ESV

“”Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.

“Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

“The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.”

– Revelation 22:12-17 ESV

Check out my video podcast from today’s lesson on YouTube.

Jesus, Our Judge and Our Savior –
Sovereign Grace Music

According to My Father’s House – 2025 Day 168 – Numbers 1-2

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 136, Numbers 1-2

In reading Numbers 1-2, it quickly becomes obvious that the people of Israel were organized “by their fathers’ houses.” This morning as I look forward to honoring my husband and my dad on this Father’s Day, it suddenly occurred to me that I wouldn’t have been placed with my own father’s line, but with the line of my husband and his father.

I’ve always been a bit of a Daddy’s girl. My dad is gentle, humble, and kind. Though he has so much wisdom to share, he’s more likely to be found listening than speaking. My dad will always, always have a very special place in my heart.

Yet, like Ruth of long ago, I was grafted into my husband’s family. “Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” (Ruth 1:16b) When I married my husband, his family became my family. His mom and dad became like my own mom and dad. I desire to honor them as I would honor my own parents.

So, Papa Bill, Happy Father’s Day to you, too. God has blessed you with a heart and a house full of blessings – children, grandchildren, and now even great grandchildren. Praise the Lord for His mercy and kindness. God has been so, so good to us.

Sisters, how can you honor your husband, your father, and your father-in-law today?

Heavenly Father, Thank You for giving my dad to me. He is a treasure. I pray that You would bless him with every spiritual blessing. And thank You, too, for my husband and his family who have welcomed me into the fold with open arms. I pray that You would bless them with peace and joy that surpasses all understanding. Give me opportunities to honor and bless my parents and my in-laws as well. By the grace of Your loving kindness poured out on me through Your Son Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.

This is My Fathers World – Steve Green
As for Me and My Home – Brandon Lake

Solid Food is for the Mature – Hebrews 5-6 – 2025 Day 159

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Read through the Bible in 2 years: Psalm 126; Hebrews 5-6

But solid food is for the mature ​— ​for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil.

Hebrews 5:14 CSB

I sure enjoy a freshly grilled steak, but there’s no way I would feed it to my one-year-old granddaughter. I remember when that precious little girl was first learning to suck rice cereal off a spoon. Then, she graduated to yogurt and oatmeal. Now she can eat just about anything, but steak? She’s still not ready for it, but it won’t be long if her Pop has anything to say about it.

It takes more than simply time to develop maturity. I’ve met plenty of 50-year-old men that don’t have the maturity of my 26-year-old son. My youngest son is 17 years old. He’s 6’1″ and almost 170 lbs. Fully grown? Maybe. Fully mature? Nope, definitely not. Though he may be ten giant leaps in front of many of his peers, he still has so much to learn. Maturity takes wisdom and learning. Maturity takes testing and trial and error.

Like this passage says, the mature have trained their powers of discernment by constant practice, distinguishing good from evil. How are we doing, sisters? Are we training our children (and ourselves) to be discerning, knowing the Lord and hiding His Word in our hearts? Are we listening to the wisdom of the world or the Word? Are we following our hearts or our Master?

Heavenly Father, we want to be mature. We want to be discerning. We want to love what you love and hate what you hate. We pray for our children to know and love your Word, that they would hide it faithfully in their hearts, and we pray that we would be diligent in teaching and training them. Help us to be godly examples for the next generation, being sober-minded and making the most of every day that we are given. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT TODAY’S VIDEO PODCAST ON YOUTUBE.

Hallelujah, What a Savior! – Hymns of Grace

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Keep the Light Burning – Leviticus 24 – 2025 Day 152

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Read through the Bible in 2 years: Psalm 119:121-160, Leviticus 24

One summer morning, while on vacation in Pensacola Florida, my family decided to go see the Blue Angels practice. We got up early and headed out, only to get stuck in a crazy traffic jam unlike anything I’ve seen before. After moving a mile in an hour, we decided we needed to make another plan. We turned left, away from the Navy base, and motored to the Walmart parking lot where we joined a dozen other wanna-be air show watchers.

The air show was scheduled to begin at 10:30, and sure enough at 10:30 we saw a couple planes in the air, but it was nothing particularly earth-shattering. After about 20 minutes of this, out in the heat on an asphalt parking lot, several members of our family decided they’d rather go get a cold drink and a snack from inside Walmart than wait in the parking lot with their heads craned toward the skies.

Blue Angels over Walmart

Minutes after they disappeared inside, the magic began. The planes started flying every which way, roaring through the blue skies.

And they missed it.

Command the people of Israel
to bring you pure oil from beaten olives for the lamp, that a light may be kept burning regularly….
Aaron shall arrange it from evening to morning before the LORD regularly.
It shall be a statute forever
throughout your generations.

Leviticus 24:2-3 ESV

I’m not good at doing things regularly or forever. I like to make plans. I like to start new projects. I struggle at maintaining the commitment once the novelty wears off. That’s one reason why I’m trying so hard to write here every day until I’ve blogged through the Bible.

But, friends, God commands us to be faithful, to keep our lamps burning, evening to morning, day after day, forever. He wants us to pass on our faith to the generations coming after us.

Do we have our eyes fixed on the skies, waiting for His return, and our hearts rooted in His Word that it can be that light to our path and lamp to our feet which He promised for us?

Or are we so busy shopping for cold Cokes and salty chips that we miss the real show?

“Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.”

Luke 12:35-36 ESV

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.

As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’

Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’

But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.

Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’

Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

Matthew 25:1-13 ESV

Heavenly Father, You are always faithful. Always. You never change. You never grow tired or weak or weary. You never get bored and give up. You are the perfect example of steadfastness. Help us, Father, to be faithful like You. We can’t keep our lamps burning on our own. Give us the oil of Your Spirit and the living water of Your Word that we may be found faithful. And embolden us to share the good news with others, that they may enter the kingdom with us, to the praise of Your glorious might. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Give Me Oil in My Lamp – Cedarmont Kids

God is a Creative God – Exodus 31 – 2025 Day 132

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 102, Exodus 31

Next week my youngest son will graduate after 13 years of homeschooling, and I’ll become a retired homeschool mom. Where has the time gone? Will you please bear with me for just a few minutes as I take a trip down memory lane, looking back over 23 years of homeschooling?

My firstborn daughter was born creative … and bossy. Ever since she could speak, she’s been gathering children around her to tell them a story or make a craft or work on a project together.

My second child has always been super verbal with a fantastic memory for all things movie, TV, sports, and music related. He actually spoke at a younger age than his siblings, despite being adopted from Russia as a six-month-old!

My third child – my little princess – has always been a thoughtful, caring child. She has a fantastic eye for details. She’s the first one to notice a new haircut or shirt.

My youngest child didn’t start talking until he was almost two-and-a-half, but he loves to learn. He’s my book-smart child, enjoying workbooks and math and school stuff.

If you follow my blog for long enough, you’ll notice several things that I’m especially passionate about with regards to my faith, things that jump out at me again and again as I read through the Scriptures.

  • God’s heart for the nations.
  • God’s perfect timing – that He is a “that very day” kind of God.
  • God’s unique purpose for each and every person that He has created.

Well, here it is again. God has a unique purpose for Moses, to lead and speak; He has an equally important, though completely different purpose for Bezalel and Oholiab, to craft the things which God has designed.

“See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft. And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you.”

Exodus 31:2-6 ESV

Once again I am reminded that God has designed each person on earth intentionally. Moses, Bezalel, and Oholiab each have a purpose. Even though their purposes are very different, none of their roles are more or less important than another. If Moses doesn’t keep his end of the deal, then Bezalel and Oholiab won’t know what to do … but if Bezalel and Oholiab don’t implement what Moses says, then the tabernacle won’t get built.

Likewise, my four children have each been created for a special purpose.

Our school system tends to heap praise upon the book-smart kids, while overlooking the kind, thoughtful, detail-oriented ones. Our culture elevates the importance of the extroverted speakers and leaders, forgetting the essential roles of the quiet, hard-working, faithful followers.

Let me wrap up today with this word of encouragement: God has a purpose for each of you and each of your children.

  • Are you a quiet, creative type with an impeccable attention to detail? Use that gift! You’re an essential part of God’s body. Don’t be ashamed to stay behind the scenes and serve the body!
  • Are you a bold, leader type with a big-picture vision? Use that gift! You’re an essential part of God’s body. Don’t be ashamed to shine and lead and share!

Don’t be afraid to be
who God created you to be

Heavenly Father, Thank You so much for each of my children. Each of them has been fearfully and wonderfully made, intentionally woven together by Your perfect hand. You make no mistake. You don’t make junk. Help me as a mother to encourage each of my children to pursue their unique callings, not to be ashamed of who You made them to be. Please protect my family from the traps of comparison and favoritism, and help us all to enjoy the beautiful variety of Your creative plans and purposes. In the Name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen.

You Have Searched Me (Psalm 139) – Keith and Kristyn Getty

If you’d like to learn more about God’s creative purposes in making each of His children “Unique and United,” I’d love to share more with you. Listen to part 1 and part 2. If you’re a member of a women’s ministry in your area, I’d love to share with you in person! Check out my “speaking ministry” page to contact me. 

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Aaron and his Sons – Exodus 29 – 2025 Day 130

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 100, Exodus 29

Exodus 28, which I read yesterday, begins with these words to Moses. “Bring near to you Aaron, your brother, and his sons with him … Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.”

Today, reading Exodus 29, I noticed that it was not only the priest, Aaron, but also his sons who were to be washed and consecrated in preparation for ministry to the Lord.

  • Aaron and his sons were to lay their hands on the head of the bull. (verse 10)
  • Aaron and his sons were to lay their hands on the heads of each of the rams. (verse 15, 19)
  • Moses was to spread blood on the right ears, thumbs, big toes, and garments of Aaron and his sons. (verse 20-21)
  • Aaron and his sons were to eat the flesh of the ram and the bread. (verse 32)

The Lord knew that the day would come when Aaron would pass into eternity, and He wanted Aaron’s sons to be prepared to carry on the office of priest.

Rather than using this time to talk about how much fathers ought to bring up their children “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” like Ephesians 6:4 says … How about we talk about how we as mothers ought to bring up our children to follow the Lord?

Precious sisters, ladies, women of God, are we preparing our children for adulthood – or are we expecting someone else to do it?

Are we discipling our children in the ways of God so they are ready for the day that we are no longer just an arm’s length (or a phone call) away?

Are we looking well to the ways of our own household with the teaching of kindness on our tongues? (Proverbs 31:26-27)

Are we following the examples of Timothy’s grandmother Lois and mother Eunice making sure that our children are well-acquainted with the scriptures from his childhood? (2 Timothy 1:5, 3:15)

Are we being reverent older women, teaching what is good and so training the young women in our lives to love their husbands and children that the word of God may not be reviled? (Titus 2:3-5)

Let’s stop pointing fingers at our husbands and their shortcomings and start seeing our own need for an attitude adjustment. Our sons and daughters need us to train them up in the way they should go. It’s never too late.

Read the Bible with your children before they head to school today. Spend 10 minutes listening to them when they get off the bus today. Let them cook dinner with you today. Pray with them before they go to bed tonight. Start today. None of us are guaranteed tomorrow.

Next week marks the end of 23 years of homeschooling as my husband and I escort our youngest son across the graduation stage and he moves his tassle from the right side to the left. 100 days from today, he’ll go off to live in a dorm with other young men. I pray that I’ve prepared him well to carry the baton of faith and share it with the world.

“Even to old age and gray hairs,
O God, do not forsake me,
until I proclaim your might to another generation,
your power to all those to come.”

Psalm 71:18

Heavenly Father, being a mother is a hard job. I can’t do it without You, Lord. Please give me the strength and wisdom I need to train up my children in the way that they should go. Help me to lock arms with them and do life side-by-side with them. Make my eyes and ears attentive to their needs. Give me a multi-generational vision, seeing my children as the next generation of leaders. Let me not grow weary of well doing. When my own children are grown with children of their own, help me to train the next generation of young women for Your glory, too. May I know that it’s never too late to do good! In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Psalm 100 – The Psalms

The Ten Commandments Song with Hand Motions – Exodus 20 – 2025 Day 125

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 95, Exodus 20

Have you ever tried to memorize the Ten Commandments but struggled to remember them all? I have, too! I found myself always forgetting at least one until someone taught me this song. I actually learned the hand motions somewhere else, so I put the two of them together.

As you’ll soon find out I’m not the best singer, but that’s never stopped me from singing. 🙂 Hope it blesses you anyway.

Heavenly Father, You are a good Father. You give us rules for our good. Make us holy as You are holy. Show us the way of escape when we feel tempted. Hide us behind the cross where Jesus died to pay the price for our sins. Now send us out to share the way of salvation with the lost, making captives of sin into disciples of Christ. By Your grace and for Your glory. Amen.

Ten Commandments Song with Hand Motions
Living Waters, Ray Comfort: “Watch His Hostility Lift with the Gospel”
City Alight – Yet Not I But Through Christ in Me

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God Has a Purpose and a Plan. Trust Him. – Exodus 13 – 2025 Day 121

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Read Through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 91, Exodus 13

Over my almost 30 years of motherhood, I’ve had countless opportunities to make decisions that my children don’t understand.

  • Sweetheart, put on your shoes and socks right now and go collect the chicken eggs.
  • Honey, grab your backpack and stick it in the car. We’re going to need it later.
  • Hey, sweetie, hurry and finish up your chores. We have to leave in five minutes.

Maybe I know something that we have planned for later that day which my children are unaware of or maybe I’m looking at a bigger, longer-term goal that my children just aren’t ready to understand. Whatever the reason may be, I want my children to obey “promptly, cheerfully, and completely.” I want them to trust my judgment. I want their first response to be obedience, rather than debate. I want their initial thought to be, “My mom’s pretty good at this mom-stuff, I ought to do what she says,” rather than, “Why is my mom always telling me what to do? Can’t she just leave me alone?”

I was thinking about this as I read about God leading the Israelites out of Egypt.

“When Pharaoh let the people go,
God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near.
For God said, “Lest the people change their minds
when they see war and return to Egypt.”
But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle.”

Exodus 13:17-18 ESV

God knows men’s hearts, and God knows the future. In His perfect wisdom, He always knows what is best. He always has purpose in the path that He choses for His children. Sometimes He wants us to walk through the darkest valleys, and sometimes He wants us to joyously dance over the mountains, but either way His purposes are good and He is worthy of our trust.

Let’s pray.

Oh Lord God, You are good and perfect in all Your ways. Help me to trust You. Help me to follow You promptly, cheerfully, and completely, even when I don’t understand, especially when I don’t understand. May I have unwavering faith because You are an unwavering God. You always keep Your promises. When the way looks dark and scary, help me reach out my hands to You and trust that You are there. In the Name of Jesus Christ, my Good Shepherd, we pray, Amen.

All of our Tomorrows – Sovereign Grace

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Passover through Christian Eyes – Exodus 12 – 2025 Day 119

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 89, Exodus 12:1-28

I usually just pick one thing to focus on in a chapter, but today I couldn’t. There’s so much contained in this one chapter of Exodus 12. In fact, I only made it through about 2/3 of the chapter – come back tomorrow for more. ☺️ I sincerely hope you’ll get your Bible out and study it yourself.

“This month shall be for you the beginning of months.” (Exodus 12:2a) This reminded me that the birth of Christ also began a new era. B.C. and A.D. are split by the birth of the Lord. Likewise the Passover establishes the beginning of every new year. Also, the Lord’s Day, Sunday, is the beginning of every new week. Wow!

“Every man shall take a lamb according to their fathers’ houses, a lamb for a household.” (Exodus 12:3b) There was to be a lamb for each household according to their fathers’ houses. God has always intended families to follow Him together with their whole households, led by a father. Fathers are designed to train and nurture and disciple their children.

“Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old.” (Exodus 12:5a) The lamb is to be without blemish, a male, and one year old. God wants your first and your best. You can’t give Him your leftovers or rejects. And just as God created humans male and female, He also created animals male and female. He wants the offering to be a male, a one year old male. Not a newborn knock-kneed baby lamb, but also not an old worn-out one.

Jesus, the once for all Passover Lamb, was a sinless male in the prime of his life.

“Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it.” (Exodus 12:7) Each Hebrew father had to take that lamb’s blood and smear it onto the doorposts and the lintel of his home. Simply killing and eating the lamb wasn’t enough. Simply being of Hebrew descent wasn’t enough. God required each family to make an active choice of faith to be saved from this tenth plague. Like Hebrews 11:28 says, “By faith [Moses] kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.”

“You shall observe this rite as a statute
for you and for your sons forever.
And when you come to the land that the LORD will give you, as he has promised, you shall keep this service.

And when your children say to you,
‘What do you mean by this service?’
you shall say, ‘It is the sacrifice of the LORD’s Passover,
for he passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt,
when he struck the Egyptians but spared our houses.'”

Exodus 12:24-27a

God wants this week-long Passover ritual to be a lasting rite for the Hebrew people, lasting even after they have entered the promised land, so that their children yet to be born will ask why it is celebrated … and the fathers can explain God’s awesome rescue … So they would be prepared for His Son, Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.

Yahweh is the Great I Am – the God who was and is and is to come. He knows what is to come in the future, and He wants our children’s children’s children to know Him. And He allows us as parents the PRIVILEGE to have a part in that! Wow!

But don’t miss the words, “He passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt, when He struck the Egyptians but spared our houses.” (Exodus 12:27)

Let those words sink in and humble you.

God didn’t pass over you because you were sinless. God didn’t pass over you because you had shed your own blood and painted it on your home’s doorframe. No, God passed over you because you choose by faith to obey Him and trust in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. (John 1:29)

Let’s pray.

Heavenly Father, Your mercy humbles me. Your grace humbles me. Your love humbles me. Why did You forgive me? Why? I don’t deserve it, Father.

Thank You for sending Your own Son to be that perfect Passover Lamb for me, that His blood would cover the sin in my heart and make me clean. Thank You that when You pass by me, You see the blood of Jesus and accept His sacrifice on my behalf. Thank You.

I pray that my life would make my children and my children’s children ask questions, “Grammy, why do you go to church? Why do you read the Bible? Why do you tell other people about Jesus? How can you be so patient when I’m naughty? Why, Grammy, why?”

And I pray that I would be faithful to tell my children and my children’s children about that first Passover and that perfect Lamb who took away the sin of the world by His death on the cross. It is in the Name of Jesus Christ that I can pray to You, knowing that You hear me and love me, Amen.

Before the Throne of God Above – Shane and Shane

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With Your Sons and Daughters – Exodus 10-11 – 2025 Day 118

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 88, Exodus 10-11

When I was a teenager I was afraid of  babies. No joke. I didn’t know how to handle them and I worried that I’d hurt them or something. I wanted to adopt all my children so I could get them when they were say about 2 or 3 years old, already potty trained and talking.

Now as a mom of four – including one who was adopted as a 6-month-old – I see the incredible value of the training that happens even in those first two years. Even the youngest child is learning how the world works. They are learning that their parents love them and take care of them – or not. They are learning that they are not the center of the world – or they are. They are learning to be patient, obedient, and humble – or not.

I am certain that God has a plan and purpose in having babies be born helpless and needy. God could’ve designed new lives to begin already grown and wise, but He didn’t. God intentionally places children into families for the good of the children … and the parents.

So, it’s no surprise that Pharaoh doesn’t want the Hebrew children to go worship with their parents, and it’s no surprise that Moses insists that they must.

So Moses and Aaron
were brought back to Pharaoh.
And he said to them,
“Go, serve the LORD your God.
But which ones are to go?”

Moses said, “We will go with
our young and our old.
We will go with our
sons and daughters
and with our flocks and herds,
for we must hold a feast to the LORD.”

Exodus 10:8-9 ESV

Don’t underestimate the importance of taking your children to church, of leading them in worship at home, and of including them in your family holiday celebrations. Your toddlers and preschoolers are learning more than you may realize.

Heavenly Father, we pray that we would be faithful stewards of the children that You have entrusted to us. I pray that we would train them up in the way that they should go and that when they are old they will not depart from it. Help us as parents to have obedient hearts, obeying You rather than the world. Lord, You love children and You have placed them into families on purpose. Help us to include them in our family’s worship at home and at church. Help us not to underestimate what our children are learning and the eternal impact that these young ones can have for Your kingdom. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.

My children reciting Psalm 139 from memory

Psalm 148:12-13 ESV — Young men and maidens together, old men and children! Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty is above earth and heaven.

Deuteronomy 31:10-13 ESV — And Moses commanded them, “At the end of every seven years, at the set time in the year of release, at the Feast of Booths, when all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God at the place that he will choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law, and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as you live in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.”

Proverbs 22:6 ESV — Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 ESV — And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

Psalm 78:2-7 ESV — I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments;

All Creatures of our God and King – Getty

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