38th Week Exodus Chapters 5-9 (Click on Title for Video Intro)

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Click on Title for Video Intro
Monday, Exodus Chapter 5
Exodus 5
Verses 22 & 23
Tanya Ruden
April 30, 2008

Verse 22 & 23:   Moses returned to the LORD and said, “O Lord, why have you brought trouble upon this people?  Is this why you sent me?  Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble upon this people, and you have not rescued your people at all.”

THOUGHT
Have you ever been in a situation where someone tried to make it better for you and in doing so made it 100% worse? You wish so badly they would have just stayed out of it. Things weren’t great before, but now, life is way worse. This was not how Moses and Aaron thought their first meeting with Pharaoh was going to go. I don’t think they were naïve enough to think Pharaoh would just say, “Sure, take my workers on a 3 day vacation and worship God”.  But I don’t think they anticipated worse conditions for the workers and now resistance from their own people. What was God doing?

I can think of a couple of times in my life when my parents interfered with something going on in my life, because they loved me.  Their “fix” made life worse for me, for a while, but in the end they did what they felt was right. They loved me, and after the worse, it did get better.

Sometimes our valleys get deeper before they become mountains.  Always remember that when someone mettles in your life, it is usually because they love you, not because they are out to make your life miserable.

PRAYER
Dear Jesus, sometimes we try to fix things and only make them worse. It happens as kids when trying to help with something, as parents trying to intercede for our kids and as adults, trying to help friends and family.  May our efforts always be interpreted as love.  May our actions of love, even when they may backfire, be seen as kindness.   May no grudges or dislike descend upon us for the valleys that are sometimes endured before the mountains. AMEN

Tuesday, Exodus Chapter 6
Exodus 6
Verse 5
Tanya Ruden
May 2, 2008

Verse 5:   Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered my covenant.

THOUGHT
God never forgets. God makes promises and keeps them. AMEN

Did you think that is all I would write? What is great about God is that although He never forgets, He erases the bad stuff.  He doesn’t hold our sins over us and say, ‘I have heard the groaning of the Israelites but they did do x, y, and z’. He thinks of the children and tribes He created and remembers this promise - His unconditional promise. Today we are able to rejoice in the promise of eternal life but not because of what we have done (or so failed to do).  We have our salvation because of His promise, and He feels our love and remembers that!

PRAYER
Dear Jesus, thanks for always remembering Your promises. Thank You for the promises You have made to us – Your created people. May we live each day in the hope and happiness of that promise and love. AMEN



Wednesday, Exodus Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Verse 17
Jeanie Boldt
May 4, 2008 

Verse 17:   “This is what the Lords says: By this you will know that I am the Lord; With the staff that is in my hand I will strike the water of the Nile; and it will be changed into blood.”

THOUGHT
Have you ever prayed for a miracle? Have you ever experienced something that seemed like a miracle and gave God the Glory? An event happened at work a couple of weeks ago that I had GOD written all over it. One of our nurses was assisting with surgery when the anesthesiologist commented on a mass on one side of my nurse’s throat. She hadn’t noticed it before, but upon examination the doctor found it to be a mass probably on her thyroid. She needed to see an internists right away.  There were some physicians called but no one could take her for quite some time so I suggested my doctor who was called and saw her that afternoon. My physician examined it, and said that she needed an ultrasound  soon and got her scheduled in a few days. My nurse, in the meantime, was prayed for in our office and had a very calm feeling that all was OK. The ultrasound came back that she needed a needle biopsy and again got that scheduled. She again was prayed for and supported. She saw how the Lord was in control of all of this (she even had scheduled herself for extra desk time during this week to get her paperwork done which usually was not the case). My Nurse said that the Lord was even watching over her hours so that she could have the tests done and not short staff any of the physicians. Her sisters were able to go with her for the procedure. Again we prayed as a group and covered her. The biopsy came back OK. No surgery was needed. An ultrasound each year will be all that is needed.  The Lord was so watching over her. He had the plan all orchestrated. Praise You, God!!! This was such an act of God.

At times I feel we watch for such unbelievable miracles that we lose sight of the daily miracles that the Lord gives us. Our days don’t have to be filled with acts such as Water into Blood but just a simple usual day where you were completely connected to God (be it a good day or even not so good). Look for God in all things and Praise Him no matter what.

PRAYER
Father, each day is a miracle for us. You have given us life and have promised eternal salvation by just believing and not having to do anything. Your act of love has given us days of miracles.  As we approach new births, we are drawn to the thought that we are each a walking miracle of Your love.  Thank You for creating us to love and enjoy and then watching over us so closely.  May we be alert each day for Your presence and thank You at the end of each day for being our guide and our support.  AMEN

Thursday, Exodus Chapter 8
Exodus 8
Verse 18
Jeanie Boldt
May 5, 2008

Verse 18:  But when the magicians tried to produce gnats by their secret arts, they could not.

THOUGHT
I don’t know about you guys, but I was getting a little sick and tired of these magicians doing everything that Moses and Aaron were doing. Now, I don’t believe in magic so I know that the Lord had control of this. Thank You, God, for not allowing them to be able to do this. Even when the
magicians said that this is an act of God, Pharaoh would not believe. Then Pharaoh wanted to compromise and just go halfway. Have you ever tried to bargain with the Lord like that?  “God, just help me find a new job, and I will promise to give you 10% of all that I make.”  The job comes - the
tithe gets set aside.

I am sure many of you can think of other situations. I know the little girls work their grandma when I am caring for them. They will say, “Grandma, read me just one more book, and then I will go to bed.” One more book is read but the promise is forgotten.

God wants all of our mind, body, heart and soul. He should have the best of all that we have to offer.  As in these chapters with Pharaoh, the Lord does not give up. He keeps trying.

PRAYER
Father God, thank You for never giving up on us. It is a JOY to know that You love each of us and will never leave us nor forsake us. Help us to remain close to You so that we will not forget what it is like to live without You.  Keep us all healthy and safe. Thank You for the faith of Moses and Aaron. AMEN



Friday, Exodus Chapter 9
Exodus 9
Verse 16
Jeanie Boldt
May 6, 2008

Verse 16:  But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.

THOUGHT
My goodness sake, Pharaoh, what does it take to break you? His land was almost completely at a ruin. However, he remained hard hearted. 

Salt Shakers, are you ready to make your heart so full of the Lord that you will praise God this very week with a loud voice and happy heart?  This is the reason we are here. He has chosen us.  Our hearts should be yielded to Him with Love and Honor. We need to be shouting it to the heights and sharing it with all those we come in contact with.

My challenge to you this week is to go beyond your box. Be daring and share. Let’s fulfill this challenge in some way. It would be wonderful if you told us of your experience. I need to be thinking about how we two couples can proclaim our love for our God on the ship during our cruise.  Please pray that we can do something to bring God the Glory out at sea.

PRAYER
Thank You, Father, for creating us for Your purpose. We are thankful for how You called us to be Yours. Praise God for our accepting hearts. Now instill in each of us a zest, a spirit, a passion for YOU to share with others. Please make the experiences happen just as You would want.  I’m excited for this. May the Holy Spirit fill us so overflowing with HOPE that our world would be filled with PEACE and JOY!! AMEN




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