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

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:

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?

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

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

With Unveiled Face: Exodus 34 – 2025 Day 135

Read through the Bible in 2 years: Psalm 105; Exodus 34

His face was shining, not because he had just married the woman of his dreams, or because he was holding his newborn son, or because he’d successfully led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, but because he had literally been in God’s presence.

I know that my face will not physically radiate light from my time with the Lord … but how I wish for my countenance to radiate the joy, peace, and hope that comes from having communed with Him that day. It reminds me of 1 Peter 3:3-4, “Do not let your adorning be external–the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear– but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.”

And 2 Corinthians 3:7-18,

Heavenly Father, May my face radiate Your glory. May my countenance reflect the joy that fills my heart. Let Your glory flow into me and out of me, that people would see YOU when they look at me. May they see my good deeds and give glory to You, my Father in Heaven. To the glory of Your Name we pray. Amen.

Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery – Keith and Kristyn Getty

Without You – Exodus 33 – 2025 Day 134

Read through the Bible in 2 years: Psalm 104, Exodus 33

Please get out your Bible and read Exodus 33. It’s such a rich chapter of the Word. I’d love to spend a week just studying its 23 verses.

The LORD said to Moses, “Depart; go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought up out of the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘To your offspring I will give it.’ I will send an angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanites, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; but I will not go up among you, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people.”

Exodus 33:1-3 ESV

How would I feel if I heard these words?

How would you feel?

Well, here’s how the Israelites reacted –

When the people heard
this disastrous word,
they mourned,
and no one put on his ornaments.

Exodus 33:4 ESV

Lord, no news is good news if You’re not in it. If You won’t go with me, I don’t want to go. I don’t just want Your gifts. I want You. You are the center of my life. You are the purpose behind everything that I do. You are my strength, my shield, my fortress, my rock. I want to walk with You – whether in the garden or in the valley or in the desert. I want to see Your glory. Hide me in the Rock of Ages, Jesus Christ, who was pierced and broken for me, who shed His blood for me. In His Name I pray. Amen.

Rock of Ages by Chris Rice
I Can’t Even Walk – Chris Blue

What will my Faith Cost Me? Exodus 32 – 2025 Day 133

Read through the Bible in 2 years: Psalm 103, Exodus 32

Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said, “Who is on the LORD’s side? Come to me.” And all the sons of Levi gathered around him.

And Moses said, “Today you have been ordained for the service of the LORD, each one at the cost of his son and of his brother, so that he might bestow a blessing upon you this day.”

Exodus 32:26, 29 ESV

Who is on the throne of my heart? Me? My husband? My children? Or my Heavenly Father?

What do I live for? My own comfort and pleasure? The praise of man? Wealth or fame? or the Lord God?

Like the sons of Levi, I have been ordained for the service of the Lord. I have been enlisted in the Lord’s army. I have become a member of the priesthood of believers.

What will this service cost me? Time wasted scrolling on my phone? A dear relationship that is pulling me away from the Lord?

It reminds me of Matthew 10.

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.

Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

Matthew 10:32-39 ESV

Whatever your commitment to Christ might cost you, let me encourage you with this: He is WORTH IT! True joy will never be found in your phone or on a plate. True happiness will never come out of a sinful relationship. True peace is only found in the arms and at the feet of Jesus. Is He Your Lord and Redeemer? If not, may today be the day.

Heavenly Father, You did not send Your Son to bring peace to this earth. You warned us that there would be division even within our own households. Let me not love anyone more than You. Make me willing not only to die for You, but also to live for You. You are worthy! Help me to remember that true joy is found only in Your arms and at Your feet. In the Name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and my Redeemer I pray. Amen.

10,000 Reasons – Matt Redman

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

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.

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. 

Would you like to receive my daily blog posts sent directly to your email? Subscribe for free by entering your email below.

✓ Subscribed

Click here for more information about my Read Through the Bible in Two Years plan.

If you would like prayer, please leave a comment below or send me a message. I’m happy to pray for you.

Please like and share.

Every Morning and Every Evening – Exodus 30 – 2025 Day 131

Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 101, Exodus 30

And Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on it. Every morning when he dresses the lamps he shall burn it, and when Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he shall burn it, a regular incense offering before the LORD throughout your generations.

Exodus 30:7-8 ESV

Every morning and every evening Aaron was commanded to burn fragrant incense on the altar of incense. Every morning. Every evening. Day after day. Night after night.

  • Romans 1:9-10a ESV — For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers,
  • 2 Corinthians 1:11 ESV — You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.
  • Ephesians 1:16 ESV — I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,
  • Philippians 1:19 ESV — for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance,
  • Colossians 4:12 ESV — Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.
  • 1 Thessalonians 1:2 ESV — We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers,
  • 1 Timothy 2:1 ESV — First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,
  • 1 Timothy 5:5 ESV — She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day,
  • 2 Timothy 1:3 ESV — I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.

Let us faithfully pray, morning and evening, all day and every day, praying without ceasing, being constant in prayer, and prayi v at all times in the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:17, Romans 12:12, Ephesians 6:18)

Anxious? Pray.

Thankful? Pray.

Scared? Pray.

Joyful? Pray.

Morning and evening, noontime and nighttime, all day and all night. Pray.

Heavenly Father, we want to be men and women of prayer. We want to be faithful, giving thanks always, praying without ceasing, faithfully giving thanks, faithfully interceding every hour around the globe for our families, our churches, our government leaders, our communities. May our lives and our prayers be a pleasing aroma to You. In the Name of Jesus Christ, our Great High Priest, who intercedes for us, we pray, Amen.

Pray Without Ceasing hymn – Tabernacle Cardiff

Need help growing your prayer life? I recommend two things. First, memorize scripture. Let the scriptures lead you. Second, get this book of Puritan prayers, “The Valley of Vision.” It has taught me so much! You can check out the Valley of Vision online devotional here.

Aaron and his Sons – Exodus 29 – 2025 Day 130

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

Holy Priests Living for a Holy God – Exodus 28 meets Revelation 5 – 2025 Day 129

Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 99, Exodus 26-28

“Then bring near to you
Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the people of Israel, to serve me as priests—Aaron and Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.

And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother,
for glory and for beauty.

Exodus 28:1-2 ESV

I loved reading Exodus 28 about the special garments the Lord commanded for Aaron and his sons to wear as His chosen priests. It reminded me of the special armor that we are charged to wear in Ephesians 6:10-20. And I was reminded of this throne room scene that John described in Revelation 5.

Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?”

And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.

And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

Revelation 5:1-10 ESV

Heavenly Father, you have made us priests by the blood of Jesus Christ. We are no longer our own. We have been bought with a price, a costly price. I pray that we would serve you all the days of our life, living holy and godly lives, dressed in the righteousness of Your Son, the only One who is worthy. In His Name we Pray, Amen.

Is He Worthy – Highrock Church Choir

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

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