Numbers 10 :1-11 :23, Mark 14 :1-21, Psalms 51 :1-19, , Proverbs 10 :31-32

What God said to me – Have you ever been to a kid’s birthday party where the kids sang “Happy Birthday” as fast as they could – they didn’t really mean the words; they just did what they thought they had to do to get cake.  Most of the time when people say a prayer before a meal it is not to entreat Me or to thank Me, it is a rote recitation so they can get to the meal.  The Jews for the most part got to the point where their focus was on the ritual of burnt offerings and sacrifices rather than on Me – they went through the motions.  David, however, understood that his sin was against Me and that the sacrifices I required was a broken spirit and a broken and contrite heart rather than physical sacrifices.  My Son, Jesus, made it clear that the greatest commandments were to love Me with all of your heart and mind and soul and strength and to love your neighbor as yourself and that to do this was greater than sacrifice.  So how are you doing?  Has your church attendance or Bible reading or prayer time become rituals you go through because you are “supposed” to like the burnt offerings and sacrifices of the Jews or do you come eagerly to be with Me in fellowship

Numbers 8-9, Mark 13 :14-37, Psalms 50 :1-23, Proverbs 10:29-30

What God said to me – Have you ever watched a baseball game where a runner got picked off because he was “asleep”?  He was tagged out because he wasn’t alert – he stepped off the bag but didn’t pay attention to where the ball was or who had it , and although he had a base coach who would tell him when to go or when to stay, he wasn’t watching him.  When the nation of Israel was traveling through the wilderness after I brought them out of Egypt, I was with them as a cloud by day and a fire by night.  When the cloud or fire stopped, they camped and when they lifted, they decamped and continued the journey.  They never knew when it would be, so they always had to be ready to stay or to go and they always had to keep their eyes on Me.  I have promised My people that I would return for them.  Although I haven’t told you the exact time, I gave you prophesies and signs about the last days and told you to stay alert and watchful so you would be ready.  You must be diligent to walk in a manner worthy of your calling and all the more as you see they day approaching.  It won’t be much longer – stay alert – be ready.

Numbers 6-7, Mark 12 :38-13 :13, Psalms 49 :1-20, Proverbs 10 :27-28

What God said to me – What do you think of as My blessing on your life? Most people would say health, wealth, a good family, a good job, lack of conflict – none of which are bad things. Take wealth for example – everyone wants it and yet few wealthy people are truly happy. They spend so much time building or trying to keep their wealth that they neglect the things that are truly important. Their focus is on “things” so it is not on Me or on others. What about lack of conflict – on the surface it sounds wonderful, but lack of conflict doesn’t necessarily mean you have peace. It may just mean that you are closed off emotionally or physically from others. Now look at what I said about true blessing when I told Moses and Aaron to bless the people. My blessing on your life is that you are “kept” by Me and that My face shines upon you and that My grace is on your life. I see you where you are and I see what you are going through, and I give you peace in your circumstances. True blessing is My presence in your life at all times, in all things. I will bless you and keep you. I will make My face shine upon you and be gracious to you. I will lift up My countenance upon you and give you peace.