"Normally it takes only eleven days to travel from Mount Sinai to Kadesh-barnea going by way Mount Seir."
Deuteronomy 1:2
Deuteronomy 1:2
My Take Away
Something Old:
An eleven day trip turned into 40 years because of disobedience.
Something New:
Deuteronomy 1:32
I was disappointed that Moses did not take responsibility for not trusting God after the scout report.
Something to Do:
Be aware and so thankful for God's provision, protection, and victory during my wilderness seasons. Stay close to God, obey Him so I do not have to stay in a wilderness season longer than necessary.
26 Comments:
Happy Friday!
Karen in Switzerland, how are ya, Sister? I've been missing your wonderful comments lately. (Ladies, did I miss a message from Karen that she would be on vacation or away?)
My old/new: Today's reading was a dramatic retelling of the events we have been studying, and a worthwhile review.
New: It came across strongly to me today that the Lord had chosen for the Israelites to NOT disturb certain peoples, and to pass peacefully through their lands. And the Lord had PLANNED for the Israelites to confront, defeat and take over the lands of other peoples. Wow! Vengence is mine, sayeth the Lord, and He means it! I need to leave certain situations in my life to Him to decide how people need to be dealt with.
My nugget: Deut. 1:17 "Don't be afraid of anyone's anger, for the decision you make is God's decision. Bring me any cases that are too difficult for you, and I will handle them." I have suffered at the hands of others in my extended family because of decisions I have made after listening to God. But I would surely rather have people angry at me, than to have God angry at me!!
I enjoyed everyone's "hey, I'm here" comments yesterday. I got a visual of all of us across this great, big country reaching out and holding hands as we help each other fulfill our commitment to God and to ourselves to read His word this year. Wendy, thanks for being the first to hold out your hand to us each day! I can't wait to meet you at your Massachusetts conference and to hear what God put on your heart this morning!
Peace,
Michelle in New England
Good Morning to All! Thanks Wendy for your message this morning and the great questions. I hope we all take time to reflect on each one and may we all hold each other in prayer as we seek the answers to these questions. There is such a balance between impulsively going after something or a direction we "feel" is from God yet could actually be our own selfish nature directing us. This is something I struggle with b/c I get so excited for God's Word and so excited for His plan and see His Hand in my life and my familly's lives as He draws us near yet I don't want to be disobedient in my impatience yet I don't want to remain where I am if He has called me to move. Does that make sense? Can anyone relate or have I just rambled on? I so desparately want to find a church my whole family can enjoy and feel comfortable, to tithe correctly, to worship the Lord and celebrate His Holiness as He instructs us to, to give ALL of myself to Him! Please pray for me and my family as we search for the Lord's direction and patienty wait for His command to move! Wow! I guess that has been heavy on my heart because I feel so much better! Thanks for listening/reading and thanks for your prayers! I will let you know when the Lord responds and my eyes are open!
God Bless to everyone and have a great weekend!
Bethany-OH
It's me again, sorry but I stopped to pray for everyone that listens to Wendy's video and thank the Lord for all the wonderful things He is doing in our lives and the community He is building through this site. I thanked Him for His directions in my life and the song, While I'm Waiting by John Waller immediately came in my heart! What a beautiful song! "I am waiting on you, Lord but patiently I will wait!" I will move ahead bold and confident taking every step of obedience while I'm waiting! "I will serve you while I'm waiting!" "I will worship while I'm waiting!" "I'm waiting on You, Lord and I am peaceful and faithfully I will wait!" Just a few verses to this AWESOME song! Sorry but HAD to share! God is great! Praise the Lord!
Bethany-OH
Happy Friday all! I was home yesterday laying around all day with a touch of the stomach flu. I was able to listen and read, but didn't have the gumption to write anything. I'm feeling much better this morning!
Old: Deut 1:34 "when the Lord heard your complaining, He became very angry". Again, here is the complaining theme and proof that the Lord does not like complaints to leave my lips.
New: Deut 1:19 "we traveled thru the great and terrifying wilderness". Being in disobedience to God and wandering in the wrong direction is terrifying...how many people I know are truly terrified in life? Too many.
Nugget: Deut 1:30 "The Lord your God is going ahead of you. He will fight for you". How comforting and a wonderful verse to memorize and keep close to my heart.
Praising Him
Morgen
Good morning-
love this-I had no idea it was would normally only take 11 days!! That shocks me. What disobedience can do to our walk with the Lord.
Please pray that I would seek the Lord and have Him open my eyes to my own disobedience.
have a great weekend everyone!
Kimberly
Happy Friday Beautiful Ladies!
Wendy ~ Well, what can I say, you looked just like an Arizonan this morning in your white t. :) A t-shirt is one of our staples here pretty much year around! And, to me you really did not even look tired! Don't you ever have one of those bad-hair days! hahah! You are always so put-together!
Thank you for your sharing this morning. Your message is one that I'm sure we could hear once a month! Oh, that God would reveal the sin on our heart, and yes, that we would be in obedience to Him. To really be moving in His direction, not getting caught up in the "moments."
Bethany-patience...God will lead you to the church He desires for your family. Keep praying. His Will is "not to give up meeting together" Heb. 10:25, He will lead you.
Michelle, I loved your visual of all of us holding hands as we read His Word together this year. It reminds me of the same verse above, Heb. 10:25, "let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
Such good reading today, I loved the familiarity too-it just warmed my heart. When ya think how different it 'could' have been for the Israelites it they had trusted God instead of listening to the report of the ten spies.
To Do: When we are confronted with "spies" we also need to trust in the LORD. Daily, the more we read, and the more we obey the Word of God, the more our faith will be increased. Reading the Bible, is God speaking to us, and as we do this His Holy Spirit guides us...His Word is ALIVE and ACTIVE and POWERFUL...inside of us! Praise you dear LORD! May Your Truths become part of me.
Ya'll have a great Friday ---and I'm looking forward to those pic's tomorrow, Wendy! Hugs, Lori
PS I've missed you, too dear Karen!
Hi Everybody,
Blessings Wendy
Jeanne....Your comments do get read. Remember your as young as you feel.
Michele in New England... your nugget spoke to me today.
Bethany in OH.... Yes your comment does make sense.
Morgen....So glad to hear you are feeling better. God Bless You.
Brandee...Your comment yesterday I'm sure spoke to many.
I've been missing Liz from Alaska.
...and to Everyone God Bless!
My goodness it is Friday already!! Where did the week go?
It has been a tough one. Hard to explain it all. Family issues. Trying to reach a prodical-sister. I'm lost to how to help her anymore. "Do I let her go? She says she wants to let us all go. This bible study and my other one is helping me greatly for understanding. The Lord works wonders for answering my questions.
My Bible verse:
Deuteromomy 1:9, Moses continued, "At that time I told you, 'You are too great a burden for me to carry all by myself.
Who Is Carrying You?
“At that time I said to you, “Alone, I am unable to carry you…”" — Deuteronomy 1:9
As a part of his first set of messages to the nation of Israel, Moses here confesses that he, a mere human being, could not “carry” the entire nation of Israel himself. Although he appointed leaders (Deuteronomy 1:13-15) to bear the burden of responsibility, still these leaders were only human beings.
“… the Lord, your God, carried you, as a man carries his child, all along your journey until you arrived at this place.” — Deuteronomy 1:31
One of the first things that Moses wanted the people of Israel to understand was that it was not he himself who had successfully managed to get the entire nation out of Egypt and through the Desert wilderness. Neither was this the result of the abilities of the people themselves — but that it was the Lord God who had remembered and honored his covenant with the patriarchs of old, who rescued them from slavery in Egypt, had fed them and cared for them — and yes, even disciplined them when necessary. Their presence on the plain of Moab was an eloquent testimony to the keeping power of God.
Friends, whether or not we realize it — or believe it — God is carrying us. In manifold ways that we may not even realize he is helping us, strengthening and encouraging us. Because of that as God’s people we need not worry or fear or be anxious about anything.
Deuteronomy 1:5
To Do: Deuteronomy 1:17......Bring me any cases that are too difficult for you, and I will handle them.
Praising Him
Rhonda
Hi all,
Sunday, we celebrated 30 years in ministry, at various churches, camps, mission trips. We can look back and see how faithful God has been to us. He protected and provided for our family step by step. We too have wandered in the wilderness because a church didn't have faith to conquer giants. But the Lord is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He continues to be The Faithful One. He keeps His promises.
God allowed the 2 1/2 tribes to have their desires, land west of the Jordan, even if it wasn't His best for them. Do we settle for second best because of our lack of faith and obedience?
Don't be afraid of anyone's anger when your decision is God's decision. Moses said for the judges to bring him the cases too difficult for them and Moses would handle them. So the Lord will handle our problems too difficult for us to handle.
Have a glorious weekend! Our first mission field is our family.
Linda from Ark.
Thanks for your wise words and insight, Rhonda! I will read and re-read them today and hold them close!
Bethany-OH
Wendy - great questions to ponder. And I agree with the others, you always look good. What's your secret, sister? :)
Jeanne, this blog begins and ends my day. So your late night comments get read and it never fails to make me smile. I'm glad you have not sworn off all commentaries. The only reason why I post them is because whatever I read spoke to me so I wanted to share with others. I get too commentary-happy sometimes but the farthest thing from my mind is to make anyone stray from the Word.
Missing Karen from Basel, too and Elle Elle - we used to post at the same time.
Two things stood out for me in today's reading: The first was Deut 1:22-24 where Moses recounted how the people approached Moses and suggested they send spies out to check the land. Moses said it pleased him well but it doesn't say that he consulted the Lord like in other instances. Commentary time from Jon Courson:
"God said, "Go take the land." The people said, "Let us send spies to check it out." Big mistake. It's always a mistake when I spy out the land because it shifts me from the place of obedience to the place of evaluation. And evaluation leads more often than not to trepidation. The Bible says we're to walk by faith, not by sight. When we spy out the land, we want sight and insight. But the point where I'm evaluating what I'm seeing is the point faith becomes nonexistent....The reason where was no need to send spies into the Land was because God had already spied it out."
After reading that I realized I'm as guilty as they are. When God wants me to move, I want to see what's going to happen first. I want to check out the land. It pains me to know that like the Israelites, lack of faith can cause an entire generation to be lost.
Jon Courson also touched on the age of accountability (that it is higher than we think) since those who are 20 and under were spared. He said, "God's grace is great and His mercy amazing, for even if the 18 and 19-year olds were murmuring God gave them the opportunity to go into the Promised Land." That just comforts my heart because of my sons esp the older one in college now. Don't let him go, Lord!
Have a blessed day, everyone!
Good Morning,
Morgan, Glad you are feeling better today :)
My nugget for today is Deu 1 :30 "The Lord your God is going ahead of you. He will fight for you just as he did in Egypt". That is so comforting...I will not have a spirit of fear in anything because my God will be going with me through everything.
Have a great day
sue in Ca
hey sisters!
ouch....wilderness....if you know what is right and don't do it, its sin...james 4:17
my 'temple' is a mess...i am not obedient to what i know is right. to quote joyce meyer 'how many times must i go around and around this mountain?'
i KNOW what is right.... i KNOW that disobedience is sin... so what is the problem???
forgive me Lord. help me to properly take care of my temple, so i can stop being distracted, and get on with my journey to the promised land...with Your help, and the prayers of my GIGs...
humbly, penitantly,
amy jane
Good morning -
The verse that jumped out at me today is Duet 1:6-7. You have stayed at this mountain long enough it is time to break camp and move on.
When we get into trouble and stray God will find a time to move us on out of it. Stand firm and trust and obey and we certainly do need to spend time daily with God. But oh so hard to do.
Help us Lord to stay firmly planted in you.
Blessings
Gail in CO
Afternoon Everyone,
Getting time to sit down and watch the video this afternoon after a full day of cleaning house. Will has spring break next week so I wanted to get most everything done today so we can have a really fun week :)
I did have my reading done though this morning and I want to encourage you all in what Wendy said about getting up and spending time with the Lord if you don't do so. I can not even begin to tell you how much a difference it makes in the day to have been filled by Him first thing. There is a peace and a guidance there that I just have a hard time living without when I have not spent those first few minutes with Him. Even if it is just 5 minutes it will make a difference and when you start doing it you will want to get up earlier :)
Ok, on the the reading....I do feel like I am in a wilderness place right now but I am walking in obedience now after a long time of not doing so. God is honoring my obedience in amazing ways friends, I just can not tell you how the blessings have come just in the past three days from obedience! It is worth it!
My nugget of truth in today's reading was about sharing our history with our children and other generations. This passage of scripture was Moses telling the next generation all about what the previous generation had done and experienced. One so they will know God's provision and His glory, but also so they do not repeat their mistakes. I think it is a good lesson for us about telling out kids about what God has done in our lives and even our mistakes. Our kids can learn from what we have had to walk through and I pray that when Will gets older and I can share my testimony with him that he will see God's glory and he will not go down that same path. This generation of Israelites will step into the promised land and not wander for 40 years. I want that to be my son and that he will go in and conquer all that God wants him to!
You all have a fabulous Friday! Bethany, I love, love that song and I play it all the time! It is a very encouraging song as I pray daily for John's salvation. Jeanne, we all love what you have to say and you dear sister. When you get done with all your notes email me back. I would love to talk to you about what I might be doing this fall and going back to school :)
Love,
Brandee, TN
Wendy, I must say your daily videos reach me every day. I look so farward to watching them and how your readings can apply to my life. You are teaching me so much.
I am unable to read along, I don't have the Bible in which you speak of. Is there anyway you could post the scripture readings for those of us who don't have the book? If not, I get it, life I am sure is busy enough for you.
May God continue to bless your ministry!
Angie
Good afternoon ladies!
Wendy, I just realized you are going to be in RI next month! I'm going to see what I can do to make it down the road to Newport.
Old: The people suggested sending scouts to explore the land and "advise on the best route to take and which towns to enter." God had been leading them by cloud and fire. He would have told them the way to go if they had waited on him.
New: MOSES chose the 12 scouts, one from each tribe. I'm sure he didn't pick men he thought would rebel.
Do: Trust God. Wait on him. Follow him.
Happy Friday! Day 71 WOW!!
We are making it!! I love you all.
Angie - I am following the reading in an online version of the Chronological Bible - here's the site:
http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/oneyearweeklychrono.php?version=51&startmmdd=0101
If you want to be on "today's" reading with Wendy, put in Jan. 1 as your start date. Chose the NLT version. Enjoy!
Kate
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I've been reading with you since Jan. 1, 2010. Today's reading - was so on target for me. In the wilderness - I have learned obedience! Been there - done that - don't want to ever go back!
I enjoy your daily videos. I'm seeing things in the scripture I have never seen before.
Hope - Texas
Hey all,
I just wanted to post and apologize for slacking this week. I am not going to make excuses. I have been reading, but had to play catch-up today with the vlogs and comments.
Anyway, I am intrigued by Deuteronomy. Days after re-dedicating my life to Jesus this past October He spoke to me in the shower, "Deuteronomy 5:12". There is NO possible way I would have conjured that up on my own, because I don't know the Bible, not to mention Deuteronomy, all that well. And further to that, the verse Wendy gave Deut. 29:29 I put in the front of my journal and do hold very near to my heart.
I read a bit about the book, and it is sort of a pause in the journey/story and really seems to focus on the reiteration of the Isrealite's journey and the Sinaitic covenant, as well as the transition of ministry from Moses to Joshua.
I liked the recap today, like Wendy mentioned, it was nice to recognize things (doesn't happen too often for me!)
I was a little surprised at Moses' sort of skimming over the events that led to HIS entry into the Promised Land being revoked, but my study bible notes mentioned that he might have been paraphrasing, meaning that the Isrealites pushed him over the edge to cause him to sin out of frustration.
I, too, liked the verse a couple people pointed out, 1:17, it is so reassuring to know that God has our back and is approachable when we cannot fight the battle ourselves.
Have a good weekend all! Thanks to those of you who so diligently post without fail. You are such great examples and help me to keep myself accountable to what my priorities are, and what they SHOULD be :)
xo from PNW
My prayer is that I follow the Lord completely, just as Caleb and Joshua.
I liked what Lori said- The more we read the more we obey God.
Last year I read about 80percent of this bible and then stopped, this year I will make the goal to read it all the way. Lord hear my prayer.
Thank you Wendy for the link, I am estastic! I can now read along with all of you!
Kate, thank you so much for posting the link to the online version of this Bible. I bought the Chronological Bible at the Fox River retreat last weekend, and have felt really prompted to get one for my sister so she can take this journey with us. I ordered one for myself, and am going to give this one to my sister when I see her this weekend (she lives 3 hours from me) even though my new one hasn't arrived yet. I was worried that I would fall behind in the readings, but now with the online site, I can bless my sister and won't fall behind.
God is so good.
Hello all!
I have been busy trying to catch up. I was on vacation last week and got a little behind. Wendy, thank you so much for your continued encouragement. I really needed those couple pointers you gave us a few days ago. I feel myself falling behind more and more and I will continue to work on it. I am loving what I am learning from God's word and all of you. I love the Vlogs! Thank you Wendy! I'm sad I missed you when you were in Wisconsin and I'm glad to hear you were treated well.
I also loved the reading today. What a great review. I'm feeling a little sad for Moses, but also impressed with what a strong individual he is.
After reviewing the whole journey I wonder how I receive the gifts of God. I want to be present in the gifts of God. Does he have to shake me like he did the Israelites to gain obedience? I know that God has been trying to reach me my whole life and now I feel him speaking to my heart. What a gift! I have been in a wilderness for 20+ years. I'm ready to move onto the promised land if God allows me.
Have a great weekend everyone! It is such a blessing to be learning and growing with all of you. Thank you
Kristin in Wisconsin
I've just had the best 2 1/2 hours of watching Wendy, taking notes, reading and taking notes from you all, and just feeling close to the Lord before I finally get in the bed. :)
Wendy, you made me realize that I am perhaps "wandering" when you gave the 3 steps at the end. ..."If there is anything in my heart that shouldn't be there"...that opened my eyes to the unconfessed sin. I could then see THAT IS ME!!!! (thank you, Lord for this woman,your servant, Wendy).
I had written down many of the same scriptures that you GIG did. Deut.1:30 reminds me of one of my favorites that took me through a horrible time in my life ( my brother consented to have his daughter,my 10 yr. old niece, adopted by her step-dad...it was like a death, but worse...she is an adult now and wants nothing to do with our family... so I can feel the pain that you may be going through,RHONDA!!! So, the verse is Isaiah 45:2: "I will go before you and I will level the mts; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron."
Lori, I loved all that you referenced, esp. to Bethany and Michelle, and THE MORE WE READ, THE MORE WE OBEY!!! ( I am seeing that in my own life, too.)
Rhonda, I think your "to do" will be an answer to your situation with your sister. He WILL handle this for you, and at some point, there will be a peace in your heart. Mine took yeaaarrrrsss!!!
I will pray for you in this matter.
Linda, I'd love to know more about your ministry of 30 yrs.
Grace & Peace, I love you, gal!!! I now know that I'm going to let you do the commentary search for us both, or for all of us. I do better when I just let you share it with me. I loved what J.C. had to say today about "God had already spied it out."...kind of like Isaiah 45:2. I will pray for your precious son in college..."don't let him go" how precious of a statement...it gave me goose bumps!!!! I want to ask that of the Lord for my grown children and their families.
Brandee,G&P, and Rhonda, thanks for your encouragement. Wow, wouldn't it be great if we could meet physically sometime before heaven ??? ;) Who knows what God has in store for us...maybe He'll work it out.
I love you all in the Lord,
Jeanne
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