Thoughts About A Donkey

That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you. Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the Moabite officials. But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the Lord stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, it turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat it to get it back on the road. Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path through the vineyards, with walls on both sides. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat the donkey again. Then the angel of the Lord moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat it with his staff. Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times? ”Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now. ”The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?” “No,” he said. Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown. The angel of the Lord asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me. The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared it. ”Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned. I did not realize you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now if you are displeased, I will go back. ”The angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with Balak’s officials. When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite town on the Arnon border, at the edge of his territory. Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why didn’t you come to me? Am I really not able to reward you?” “Well, I have come to you now,” Balaam replied. “But I can’t say whatever I please. I must speak only what God puts in my mouth. Numbers 22:20-38

Balaam chose to disobey God's direction. 

The donkey, in what would seem, typical donkey fashion was refusing to cooperate and do what the man had planned

But the donkey saw what Balaam couldn't. 

1. 

If you had a donkey I am sure you would get frustrated and angry with it at times, but if it started speaking to you...would you continue to be angry or get angrier???  I can't imagine I would...shocked, amazed,  maybe even fear, but angry...I don't think so.

2.

Balaam's anger, at that point, seemed to have taken control and even something as shocking as a talking animal didn't make him stop and think.

Angry that his plan was being interrupted, He knew that he had made a choice to leave outside of the plan that God had directed. Angry enough that he said he was about to kill the donkey in rage.

3. 

Balaam argues with the donkey!  It seems absurd, first of all not to be shocked that your donkey is talking to you, but being angry, stubborn and prideful enough to then argue with it!

I think I might have either looked around for Candid Camera, or fallen on my face and prayed to God wondering what was happening,

Sometimes don't we have a plan in mind....and we head in that direction? We stubbornly refused to move to the right or left...."This is what I want, what I planned." 

We get angry when things hinder that plan, maybe just anger with the situation, or maybe with the individuals who seem to be an interruption.

I don't want my stubbornness and pride to keep me from seeing an angel of the LORD!!

A lesson a long time ago is that God has my schedule, and my plans.

Not that I don't make lists and plans.  BUT I pray each day that I leave room for GOD. 

Now, I can get distracted completely on my own!  But there have been times when before "my list" even gets started something comes up; someone needs my help, a friend needs an ear or a shoulder, something that I know is bigger or more important than my list.

Take CoffeeTime, for example:

I planned on it being published every Monday morning, and look, today is Wednesday!

Sometimes I believe it gets published in God's timing, for whatever reason,  God can use it whenever I I get it out there, but I know that His timing is best!

Daily lists not touched because someone was in need before the first item was done,

Bible study lesson prepared for weeks before it was able to be studied, but discovering that was the exact time it was needed,

(added last) blogs being delayed so that a particular song could be shared with it!

To get frustrated and angry with the things that seem to pop up and block my way isn't productive and doesn't allow for hearing what God has.

The last statement in the passage... Balaam replied. “But I can’t say whatever I please. I must speak only what God puts in my mouth.

I believe Balaam got the message!  "I am only going to say what God tells me to!"

Today,

 I pray I don't argue with things that seem to block the plans that I have made.  I take a step back, pray and let God show me where He needs me to be, what He needs me to be doing.

As we  make plans, continually pray that God make His known and that ours are flexible enough to accommodate when God moves, and that we are humble enough to accept that God knows better than we do!

Before I finished this blog my brother-in-law shared this video with me (literally 5 minutes ago) and it just seems to flow with what is being said!  God's timing!

🎵 For Such A Time As This - Wayne Watson

🙏I pray that we are available for such a time as this❤

Nine Simple Words

He has risen.. and.. He is going before you.....

This small part of a verse spoke volumes to me the other day.

Matthew 28 (NKJV)

 7 And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”

The same account of what the angel said to the women at the tomb is also in Mark 16 (NKJV)

 7 But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.”

The short section, nine words,  of the verse that jumped out at me is an amazing statement!!

Especially this Easter Monday..day after easter!

He has risen...He is alive and goes before us...anything we experience He has gone before and knows.

I know that in these verses the angel is comforting the women and wants them to do the same to the disciples..."He is alive and has gone on ahead of you...is waiting for you to come to Him."

To me, those few short words said to me/say to me...He is alive, the Savior I serve is ALIVE! He goes before me. Anything I go through He has been there already.

And that is amazing to me, a comfort, it is encouraging!

🙏I pray you find it the same!❤

He not only goes before....He also is with us...that is how our amazing God works!

🎵 Whom Shall I Fear Chris Tomlin

Reflections On Friday

When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort. He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies. Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.” But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.) Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”  For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.”  But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. So Pilate decided to grant their demand. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will. As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then

“‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!”
    and to the hills, “Cover us!”’

For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.  One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”  Luke 23:8-39

He was mocked for His words.

Ridiculed for His beliefs. 

Spit on for who He was.

He was treated horribly by some who said they knew Him. 

He was denied by His friends.

He was condemned to death by some who had just been praising His life.

Are we any better??

Do we make fun when we see someone whose clothes are different then ours, whose speech is different.

Do we ridicule those who believe different than we do?

Do we verbally spit on those who act different than we do?

Do we talk badly about those we work with, family members, our church family?

I am sure you are getting my point.

You may say; " Jesus is the Christ, Jesus was perfect so He deserved none of it! But ______ IS all these things! I am only speaking the truth!"

When we do this to anyone, we are doing it to Christ.

JESUS, who is perfect, calls us to LOVE all those we come in contact with or see. And He showed us what that love looks like;

 

He spoke with the woman at the well

📖 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” John 4:7-10

He did not condemn the woman about to be stoned. 

📖The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”  “No one, sir,” she said.  “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”   John 8:1-11

He went to the home of Zacchaeus 

📖  When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” Luke 19:5-7

He called a tax collector to be His follower

📖 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:9-13

He accepted the humble

📖 "We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. ”Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:41-43

He forgives all, even those who caused His death. 

📖 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. Luke 23:33-34

He came for these people.

He came for the lost and broken sinners.

I look in the mirror....He came for that lost and broken sinner as well.

You look in the mirror....He came for that one too. 

📖 "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10

This Easter weekend I want to choose to be like Christ...not like the crowd; to look at everyone with His eyes and treat them with His love!

🙏my prayer is you choose the same💗

Click on the link to hear a great message

🎵It's Friday

🕇The Other Cross🕇

Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”  There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews. One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”  Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:32-43

As we move through Holy Week: from Palm Sunday and the Triumphal Entry to Maunday Thursday; the eve of the Last Supper, Good Friday; Jesus arrest, trial and crucifixion, culminating on Resurrection Sunday....I decided to share with you something I think on often:  

The other cross.

Three crosses are recorded on the hill.  There may have been more.  But Scripture records two criminals, on either side.

📖 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left.

I always picture the first on Jesus left;

The criminal who seems to acknowledged who Christ was 

📖 “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 

But he was joining  with the others who were below them jeering, mocking ridiculing...

he wanted....demanded Jesus save them.

📖 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. James 2:19

There was NO humility, no remorse for the crimes which put him on that cross. 

The man on the second cross, the cross on Jesus's right, clearly understood who Jesus was:

knowing each of them deserved punishment for their crime, but Jesus had no offenses. He defended Jesus.

📖 Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”  

Another statement showing that he knew exactly who Jesus was;

He knew where Jesus was going and asked, not to join Him, but just to be remembered.

📖 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

This man's heart was humble...he did not demand anything of Jesus.

He asked only to be remembered and in that humility He was saved! 

Was he wisked off the cross and up to heaven physically?....no his body still suffered the consequences of his earthy choices. BUT in the moment his body died, I believe his spirit was in heaven. And it was soon...because Jesus said 

📖 "Today...you will be with Me in paradise"!!

The right hand seems to hold importance in scripture, this is why I picture this man on Jesus's right;

Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father. 

📖 “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."Matthrw 26:64

When He tells the parable of the sheep and goats.

📖 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Matthew 25:32-33

📖 For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Isaiah 41:13

Both men, the one on the right and the one on the left, could have had the same experience, but they didn't have the same condition of the heart.

What about us?  What do we sound like with Jesus?

Do we demand He fix things?  Make things better? How WE want them to be? Be angry at Him for the condition of our heart and the consequences of our choices?

Or do we humbly seek His presence and praise Him for who He is, honor His sacrifice and submit ourselves to Him?

📖“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven Matthew 7:21

We can acknowledge Christ, say we are a believer...but if we have nothing to show for it...our fruits are not of God....aren't we just like that man on the left?

When we complain, grumble, mock others we are doing the same to Christ.

If we claim to be a Christian...then we MUST behave like one.  In our actions and our words and our heart!

Having faith must LOOK like it...trust, perseverance, patience.

Look like the faith on "the other cross"

📖  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. Galatians 5:22-26

Christ sees our hearts...knows us intimately, 

What does He require of us...

📖 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.

    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly with your God Micah 6:8

If we are walking humbly in step with our Lord and Savior....we shall be with Him in paradise when our day comes!

🙏My prayer for you today is that you not only walk with Him humbly through this Holy Week, but that it is your life long journey.💗

In the Room

Do you know who's in the room with us, my brother?
Do you know who's in the room with us, right now?

Do you know who's in the room with us, my sister?
Do you know who's in the room with us, right now?

Songwriters: Michael Ray Farren / Tony Webster Wood / Jon Reddick

Some of the opening lyrics to In the Room by John Reddick 

Click on the link to listen 

🎵In the Room John Reddick

This song was played at church this past Sunday...feeling God's presence in His house. 

But do you know what room God is in right now?

What ever room you are in right now!

If you are outside...or in a car or in a doctor's office waiting room.

God is there right now....

📖 The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. Psalm 118:6

That is pretty amazing...and a bit overwhelming. 

📖...And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20b

The God who created the universe...put the moon and stars in their place, set the earth on its course...is right here where I am!

How humbling....it should stir in us the desire to honor Him....love Him, serve Him.

He's The God who's not scared of, the messes we've made
He's waiting for us to say, "Come have Your way"
That's The God who's in the room with us, right now. (In the Room by John Reddick)

🙏Praying you feel His presence in the room with you right now❤

📖 because God has said,  “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5b