Category: International Ministry

A Prayer for my Family and my Nation based on the Aaronic Blessing in Numbers 6 – 2025 Day 172

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 140; Numbers 6:22-8:26

“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”

Numbers 6:24-26 ESV

As Aaron and his sons prayed this over the people of Israel, I want to pray this over my family and nation. Will you join me?

Heavenly Father, I pray that you would bless my husband, my children, my grandchildren, and my nation with Your wisdom and peace. Guide them in the way that they should go. Protect them from the deceitful schemes of the evil one. Give them discerning spirits to recognize what is good and what is evil and grant them wisdom to choose that which is good.

I pray that Your face would be turned toward them, and that their hearts would likewise be turned toward You. Be gracious to them, Father. Pour Your love upon them according to Your steadfast love and mercy. May Your goodness shine gloriously upon them and out of them, that the nations of the world would be drawn to faith in Your Son.

I pray that You would smile upon them, filling their hearts with joy, hope, peace, and purpose, that they would know that You have good plans for them, plans to prosper them and not to harm them. May they follow You all the days of their lives, acknowledging You in all their ways. Please, Father, make their ways straight – not crooked or deceitful or false, not devious or evil. May they not be ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first but also to the Gentile.

Finally, Father, I pray that the peace which surpasses all comprehension would guard their hearts and their minds in Christ Jesus. Jesus is the only path to peace. He is the Only Way to You, Father. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. His blood is the covering that we need to be reconciled to You, Lord. His blood is the way of redemption. May they have peace with God and peace with man, peace in their hearts and peace in their homes. And may this peace draw them to worship You and tell others about You.

In the Holy, Almighty Name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

CLICK HERE TO PRAY WITH ME ALOUD – VIDEO LINK ON YOUTUBE.

“The Lord Bless You and Keep You” Acappella Hymn – SE Samonte
“May the Lord Bless You” – Sing through the Bible
“The Lord Bless Thee” Scripture Song – Keep the Word

God’s Children are called to Serve in Different Places and for Different Purposes – 2025 Day 169 – Numbers 3:1-39

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 137, Numbers 3:1-39

If you read Numbers 2 carefully, you noticed that God specifically told each of these different clans where they were to camp: some to the north, some to the south, some to the east, and some to the west. This pattern is repeated again in Numbers 3, but now with the Levites. The Gershonites are to camp to the west of the tabernacle, behind it. They are responsible for guarding the tabernacle itself, the tent and its covering, the screens, hangings, and cords. The Kohathites are to camp to the south of the tabernacle, and they are responsible for protecting the ark, the tables, the lampstands and altars, and all the vessels of the sanctuary. Finally, the Merarites are to camp to the north of the tabernacle, and they are responsible for the frames and bars and pillars, the bases and pegs and cords – all that extra heavy stuff.

But what about the front of the tabernacle, the east, the side facing the sunrise? God has a plan and purpose for that place, too. Moses and Aaron and Aaron’s sons are to camp there.

God has ordained for each of these groups, these clans, according to their father’s households, a specific place and purpose.

Though our specific instructions are no longer written out for us in His Word, God still has unique purposes and callings for His children. Ephesians 2:10 is as true today as when it was written 2,000 years ago! “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

God had planned out unique purposes and places for the Levites, and He has unique purposes and places for us, too. We’re not all called to go serve in Asia or Africa or Europe or South America, but some of us are. We’re not all called to homeschool or adopt or teach English, but some of us are. We’re not all called to be pastors or pastors’ wives, but some of us are. We’re not all called to translate the Bible into other languages or write children’s Bible study curriculums, but some of us are!

Whatever it is that the Lord is calling you to do, do it. Do it well. Do it whole-heartedly.

Listen carefully
and follow fervently.
That’s something we’re all called to do!

Heavenly Father, Thank You for the unique callings and purposes that You have placed on each one of our lives. We are members of one body, the body of Jesus Christ, but You have unique places and purposes for each one of us. You are the all-powerful, all-wise God. Help us to listen carefully and follow fervently — for the glory of Your name. It is in the name of Jesus Christ, the name that is above every name, that we pray. Amen.

Facing a Task Unfinished – Keith and Kristyn Getty

Together – Hebrews 10 – 2025 Day 163

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 130; Hebrews 10

When I was little, I loved the Sesame Street book, The Together Book, which features pairs of things that need to be together. A wagon needs wheels. A milkshake needs a straw. A sled needs a hill. And Grover needs Big Bird to push him on the swing.

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Hebrews 10:23-25 ESV

I love how these verses pair these two ideas together: hold fast to the confession of our hope and meet together with other believers.

  • We need to hold fast to our faith, and we hold fast to other believers.
  • We need to cling to the gospel, and we need to cling to our sisters and brothers.
  • We need to keep our hope in God, and we need to keep the encouragement of our faith family.

Sisters, I need you, and you need me, and we both need God and the gospel. Let me encourage you, and please come encourage me. We need each other.

Heavenly Father, Thank You for the hope that is mine because of what Jesus did for me. And thank You for giving me sisters to encourage me when life is hard, for You knew that life would be hard. I pray for my sisters who aren’t active, participating members of a local fellowship of believers. Please show them their need for encouragement and exhortation, and please direct them to a local Bible believing, Bible preaching community of Christ-followers. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

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

The Together Book – Sesame Street
Ancient of Days – Shane and Shane

He Touched Me – Leviticus 11-14 – 2025 Day 146

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Read through the Bible in 2 years: Psalm 116; Leviticus 11-14

A few years ago, on a Sunday morning, as I was sitting in our church women’s Sunday school class, I was overwhelmed by the deep sense of love and community that I felt from the women gathered there. Earlier that week I had been told that I had a stress fracture in my right foot, and I’d have to use a boot for several weeks until it healed. The women gathered there were all asking about me and listening intently to what I had to say. I felt genuinely seen and heard and cared for.

It’s hard to explain, but it’s something I had never experienced before being a part of the body of Christ. These women loved me for just exactly who I was – not some fake, cleaned-up version of myself … but me.

Reading about the Levitical laws for those afflicted with leprosy broke my heart. Listen to these verses and imagine how that must have felt,

“The leprous person who has the disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head hang loose, and he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean.’ He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease. He is unclean. He shall live alone. His dwelling shall be outside the camp.”

Leviticus 13:45-46 ESV

And now imagine this scene between a leprous man and Jesus.

When [Jesus] came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him.
And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying,
“Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.”
And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.”
And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

Matthew 8:1-3 ESV

He touched him. He could’ve just spoken a word. He could’ve told him to go wash himself far away in the river … or go roll around in the dust outside the camp … But, no, Jesus touched him. Intentionally.

Jesus didn’t have to worry about becoming unclean.
The leprous man’s disease couldn’t contaminate Him –
and neither can yours.

Jesus came close to me. He touched me and cleansed me and made me whole. Has He done that for you? He can.

Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your loving touch and care for me, a sinner. Thank You for bringing me in from outside the camp, for welcoming me in while I was a stranger, lonely and alone. Thank You for making me a member of Your body, filling me with purpose and meaning and hope for a brighter tomorrow. I pray for the many people in our world who are still living their lives outside the camp. Alone. Please send Christians into their lives to welcome them in and to share the hope of the gospel with them. In the name of Jesus – the Ultimate Welcomer – I pray. Amen.

He Touched Me – Gaither Vocal Band

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Unity in the Body of Christ – Leviticus 8 – 2025 Day 143

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Read through the Bible in 2 years: Psalm 113; Leviticus 8

At the consecration of Aaron and his sons, the Lord tells Moses to assemble all the congregation at the entrance of the tent of meeting, so they can witness this blessed event. Moses washes Aaron and his sons with water and dresses them in their sacred robes and ephods and turbans. Moses pours anointing oil onto their heads as well as on the tabernacle and the altar and its utensils.

And he poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head
and anointed him to consecrate him.

Leviticus 8:12 ESV

This passage reminded of Psalm 133:1-3, “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the LORD has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.”

Are you an active, participating, contributing member of a local Bible-preaching, Bible-believing congregation? Friends, you need them, and they need you.

Is there someone in Christ’s body that you are at odds with? Someone you need to forgive? Someone who has something against you? Christ has charged His children to be ministers of reconciliation and ambassadors for His kingdom. Let it start with you.

Dear Heavenly Father, what a beautiful gift it is to dwell in unity with my brothers and sisters in Christ. It’s not easy, but it’s good. I pray for pure and heartfelt unity within my local body of believers as well as across the global body of Your church. I pray that our unity would be rooted in Your truth and righteousness and bear great fruit for Your glory. Make us Your priests, anointing and washing others in the water of the Word and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Help us to be quick to repent and quick to forgive. By the grace of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

There is One Gospel by City Alight

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Sins of Ignorance – Leviticus 4-5 – 2025 Day 141

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Read through the Bible in 2 years: Psalm 141; Leviticus 4-5

The Lord here provides specific directions for how to atone for unintentional sins, sins of ignorance. This reminded me of so many other passages, like Paul’s beautiful testimony from 1 Timothy 1:12-16,

“I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.”

Listen to Jesus’s words when He was being crucified,

“Father, forgive them,
for they know not what they do.”

Luke 23:34

But what about when you continue willfully in sin? Or what about those who have heard the gospel again and again and yet they choose to turn their back on God?

“For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.

Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?

For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

Hebrews 10:26-31

Let’s stop questioning what God will do with those who have never heard the gospel, and instead ask ourselves, “Am I prepared to meet God? Am I in willful disobedience to the Word of God? Am I being faithful to share the good news and make disciples where God has placed me?”

Will you join me in prayer?

Heavenly Father, I, for one, am not ignorant. I once was lost, but now I’m found. Even when I was darkness, running away from You, You had written Your law on my heart. I knew that it was wrong to lie. I knew that it was wrong to say hateful things about other people. I knew that it was wrong to slander and gossip. I knew it, but I did it anyway. Thank You for saving me while I was yet a sinner. Thank You for sending Jesus to die in my place, to be the sacrificial lamb who died outside the camp, who bore my sin and shame.

Now let me take this knowledge and share it with others, so that they will not meet You in ignorance. I pray also for those who have heard the truth and have willfully rejected it, who are intentionally running away from You today. Please, Lord, save them! Draw them to Yourself. Send Your Word, Your angels, and Your children into their path. May Your courts be filled with people from every tribe and tongue from around the globe. In the Name of Jesus Christ, the only Name that saves, Amen.

In the Light – Shane and Shane

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A Single Whole: The Tabernacle Meets New Jerusalem – Exodus 36-37 – 2025 Day 137

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Read Through the Bible in 2 years: Psalm 107; Exodus 36 – 37

  • Why did God lead Moses to list all these details in His Holy, inspired Word?
  • Why do we need to know all about the curtains and the rods and the clasps and the ark and the table for the bread and the table for the incense?
  • Why do we need all these details about the lampstands and the altar and the basin?

Well, here’s one thing that was made more clear for me by the incredible amount of detail Moses shared:

He made fifty loops on the one curtain, and he made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that was in the second set. The loops were opposite one another. And he made fifty clasps of gold, and coupled the curtains one to the other with clasps. So the tabernacle was a single whole.

Exodus 36:12-13 ESV

The tabernacle was made of all these various things, things that were donated and constructed by various people, yet the tabernacle was a single whole. God wanted all these golden clasps, wooden frames, silver bases, and blue and purple curtains to fit together perfectly to make the tabernacle a single whole. Unique and United again.

There is one God, and there is no other. The perfect unity of Father-Son-Holy Spirit, one God eternally exists in three persons.

And, what about the bride of Christ, the wife of the Lamb, the church?

“Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.”

And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed– on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb….

The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day–and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

Revelation 21:9-14, 19-27 ESV

Christ only has one bride, but this one bride is made up of thousands upon thousands of individual, unique souls who have been coupled together by God’s Holy Spirit and washed in the blood of the One Lamb Jesus Christ.

The tabernacle was a single whole, made of many parts,
and so is the body of Christ.

Are you a member of that very special body? If not, what is holding you back? If so, how then shall you live? What does being a member of the body of Christ mean to you in your daily life?

Heavenly Father, Thank You for making me Your bride, for inviting me into this holy union between You, Holy Almighty God, and Your bride. Thank You for the beauty that is found in communing with You. It is a precious, priceless gift of infinite worth. I pray that I would be eager to contribute to the building of this sanctuary – to spend my time, talents, treasures, and testimony for the building up of this body, Your bride. In the Name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.

Hymn of Heaven – Phil Wickham

Everyone Whose Heart Stirs Them – Exodus 35 – 2025 Day 136

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Read through the Bible in Two Years: Psalm 106, Exodus 35

“All the men and women, the people of Israel, whose heart moved them to bring anything for the work that the LORD had commanded by Moses to be done brought it as a freewill offering to the LORD.”

Exodus 35:29 ESV

God had called Bezalel and Oholiab by name, giving them special skills and abilities to craft the beautiful tabernacle for the worship of the Lord, yet God also had a purpose for the entire congregation. Every man and every woman in the whole nation, everyone whose heart stirred them, everyone whose spirit moved them, were invited to contribute to the creation of the tabernacle.

Do you have some blue, purple, or scarlet yarn? How about some rams’ skins or goats’ skins, goats’ hair or fine linen? God needs you.

Do you have anything made of bronze, silver, or gold? How about some stones, spices, or oils? God needs you.

They didn’t have to have
any particular skills.
They just needed to have
willing hearts.

What do you have to offer Him? A house? A job? An education? A child? A marriage? These are all gifts from Him, and He can use them all. Are you willing?

Heavenly Father, every hour of every day is a gift from You. My life is a gift, but so is my stuff. Every piece of furniture, every article of clothing. Every room in my house. Every child around my table. My husband sitting next to me. I offer them back to You. Take my life and let it be, consecrated, Lord, to Thee. Stir my heart. Move my spirit. For Your glory and praise. Amen.

My Worth is Not in What I Own –
Keith and Kristyn Getty
Take my Life and Let it Be – Norton Hall

When Your Heart Moves You to Give – Exodus 25 meets 2 Corinthians 9 – 2025 Day 128

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Read through the Bible in 2 years: Psalm 98, Exodus 25

“Speak to the people of Israel,
that they take for me a contribution.
From every man
whose heart moves him you shall receive the contribution for me.”

Exodus 25:2 ESV

The Lord had provided for the Israelite people by turning the hearts of the Egyptians to give to them. Now the Lord is asking the Israelites to give to Him. They had freely received, and now they are being asked to freely give.

Sometimes (oftentimes) it’s hard to give.

We feel like our lives and our things belong to us, forgetting that everything that we have is a gift from God, our good Father, the giver of every good gift. We forget that we are merely stewards of our time, talents, treasures and testimonies.

I was reminded of a beautiful passage in 2 Corinthians 9 when Paul was taking up a collection for some needy believers. Let’s take these words to heart – not merely listening to the Word, but doing what it says.

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”

He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.

2 Corinthians 9:6-11 ESV

Heavenly Father, You have given to me so abundantly. I have more than I need. I have more food and more clothing and more home than I need. I have more free time than I need. You have blessed me with a husband who loves me and four incredible children as well as a son-in-law and a daughter-in-law and two little granddaughters. Thank you, Lord! I pray that I would be generous with all of these good gifts. Help me also to be generous with sharing my testimony and the truth of the Word that I have stored up as treasure in my heart. You have been so, so generous to me. Give me the strength to be generous toward others as a gift of gratitude to You. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

City Alight – My Labour is not in Vain

A Heart for the Nations – Exodus 12b – 2025 Day 120

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 90, Exodus 12:29-50

I love the end of Exodus 12 where the Lord explains to Moses that strangers can join in with the congregation of Israel by choosing to be circumcised. It may not be easy, but it can be done. God has always had a heart for the nations, and He always will. Do we?

“If a stranger shall sojourn with you and would keep the Passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised. Then he may come near and keep it; he shall be as a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person shall eat of it. There shall be one law for the native and for the stranger who sojourns among you.”

(Exodus 12:48-49 ESV)

“You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” – Acts 3:25

“And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘In you shall all the nations be blessed.’” – Galatians 3:8

“Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.” – Colossians 3:11

Heavenly Father, I pray for the nations of the world to know You and to worship at Your feet. I pray that You would use each of us to share the gospel with those in our corner of the world … and around the world. Make us heralds and ambassadors of the good news. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

“And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, ‘Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.'” – Rev 15:3-4 ESV

Revelation 15:3-4 – All Nations will Come and Worship God! Scripture in a Dozen Languages!
Psalm 90 – The Worship Initiative
Shane and Shane

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