Day 68

Numbers 13:26-14:45

….the men come back from exploring the land and tell of their experience. They say the land is full of milk and honey. But they said the people there were powerful. When Caleb suggested going and taking possession of the land these men wanted no part. They began to give bad reports of the land to everyone. Talking of how the people there were giants.

So of course the Israelites groan and moan. And complain and whine. They decide to choose a new leader and go back to Egypt.

Now I can only IMAGINE how NOT FUN this journey has been for them! I mean. They were slaves in Egypt. And now they want to go BACK there!

Moses, Aaron and Joshua and Caleb (who had gone on the exploration) told the people (along with hitting the found face first and tearing their clothes) that the land was GOOD! That the people there do not have God’s protection like they did and there was no need to fear.

And the good Israelites thought ‘lets stone them’. Do you want to shake your head yet? Cause I totally do.

Now God shows up at this point and asks just how long these people will continue to not believe in Him. So God decides to kill the whole lot of them and just make Moses great.

I really wonder about God back then. And I love how much Moses has Gods ear. He reminds Him that the Egyptians would hear that God killed them all. And right now they know that God is with them. Going before them always. That God has revealed himself. Moses knew the Egyptians would mock God.

So God agrees to not kill them all off. But He does promise that only Caleb will see the promised land. That not one of the people who has questioned Him will see it.

This story gets better. God really goes off here. Every person over 20 will die in the lands before those under will enter the new land. It’s awful actually to read. How the children will work the land for fourth years as the old ones die off.

Then God takes those that went to explore – all but Joshua and Caleb – and kills them with a plague. They lied and spread rumors out of fear and caused an uprising. And this was the consequence. Moses and Aaron told the Israelites and they all mourned.

In the morning they went up to the land saying they were ready for the land The Lord had promised them.

I’m confused who ‘they were’. All the Israelites? Or a group of them? I’m not sure.

But Moses stopped them. Reminding them that just the day before God told them they wouldn’t see the land. But in the way of these people – they went anyways. And they went sadly without God’a protection. So ‘they’ went. And ‘they’ were struck down by the Amalekites and Canaanites who were living there.

Dumb. These people are dumb.

I wonder if I’d fit right in.

Mark 14:43-14:77

Judas shows up with an armed crowd. Poor Jesus. He was so emotional at this point. Begging God to take this burden from him.

And now begins the entire process. Now he knows it won’t be taken.

Now he watches his friend come and kiss him signaling to the crowd he is the one to arrest.

And he is arrested. And all flee. Except on young man wearing only a linen garment. When they seized him he fled naked.

I have to say I’m confused as to why this was documented. But ok.

Jesus was taken to the high priest and the chief priests. Peter had followed at a far distance.

The priests were trying to find evidence against him but were unsuccessful. Testimonies given were false.

When asked if he was the Messiah, the son I the Blessed One he replied ‘yes, I am’.

The priests declares blasphemy and the crowd spit on him. Blindfolded him, struck him with their fists. And the guards took him and beat him.

I am sad when I get an ant bite. A bump on my leg. And here was the son of God. Being beaten. And knowing all of what was to come.

A servant girl of the high priest passed Peter and stopped recognizing him as one who was with Jesus. But he denied it.

Denial one.

She told those standing around that he was one of them. He told them all no denying it.

Denial two.

A while later those standing around said ‘surely you are one of them’ and he called down curses and swore to them ‘I don’t know this man you’re talking about.’

Denial three.

And with that the rooster crowed a second time.

And Peter remembered the words Jesus spoke to him ‘before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.’

And Peter broke down and wept.

I wonder what the people thought. I am sure this confirmed he was one of them. But I wonder if they took pity on him and left him alone. Walked away. Or turned their backs. Did anyone reach out to him or feel his sadness?

Proverbs 6:30-6:35

This was different.

Reminding us that no one despises a thief who stole because he was hungry and starving.

Yet a man who commits adultery has no sense.

And immediately I’m taken to those who cheat because they are starving. Because their partner at home has become dead to them. No longer being a living part of the relationship.

And I am saddened for them.

And yet now as I write that God reminds me that the one who is starving has words. And can use them. And speak up. And fix things. Or end them the right way.

Starving for food is one thing…you have no power at times to control this.

Yet you can walk away from the unhealthy. Rather than cheat and hide.

Day 67

Numbers 11:4-13:25

The Israelites craved meat and begged for it. God was angered by this as they kept yelling how they were better off in Egypt. He filled the land with quail and told Moses the people would eat it for a month.

The Bible says that while the meat was still between their teeth God sent down a plague.

Never grumble people. Never. Goodness.

And never talk crap behind someone’s back.

No no no.

Miriam and Aaron began to talk about Moses, their own brother, and God didn’t so much like this. He called them on it as He appeared like a pillar of smoke…and then He gave Miriam leprosy.

I wonder how many times God would have given my sister, brother and I leprosy?!!

Aaron begged Moses for help who in turn begged God to heal her. She was succumbed to this for seven days and had to stay outside of camp. Then was allowed back in.

Through all this the Israelites kept moving.

Moses then sent a leader from each tribe to go and scout out the land of Canaan. They were to look for people and if they were strong. As well as to look for good soil and proof of vegetation.

At the end of 40 days the men came back.

I feel like this is…to be continued…

Mark 14:17-14:42

During dinner Jesus tells them that one of them will betray him. They all go through one by one saying it won’t be them. But he tells them it is true.

He then breaks bread and tells them it is his body. And pours wine and tells them it is the blood of his covenant poured out for so many. And he tells them the next time he drinks wine it will be in the kingdom of God.

They sang a hymn and went to the Mount of Olives.

Over 10 years ago my worship leaders beautiful wife, Ginny Greer, sang at Easter communion and I sing the words she did – every time I take communion. ‘This is my body broken for you and as you eat it remember me.’ And then as I drink the juice ‘This is my blood poured out for you and as you drink it remember me’. I wish I could write the tune.

Jesus tells the disciples that they will all fall away. And Peter promises him that he won’t. But Jesus tells him that before the rooster crows twice on that night Peter himself will deny him three times.

And then my favorite part of the story of Jesus.

Where I see the humanness revealed.

He told his disciples to sit while he went to pray. He took Peter, James and John with him.

And he became deeply distressed and troubled. Wouldn’t you? To know you are about to die. And not just a quick death but to be tortured and ridiculed. And even though you are ‘God’ you will feel in all your humanness the pain and the agony and the horrible trauma. All for people you don’t even know. All to save them.

I would be freaking the junk out!!!

He went a little further on his own and fell to the ground. And here I fall for the man. He asked God to take this from him. Asked for it to pass. ‘Take this cup from me.’

Scream it Jesus!!!

I would seriously be questioning my God, my Father. Why? Why couldn’t He just CHOOSE to save the people instead of using Jesus the way He was.

Well…that’s been proven why. For hundreds and thousands of years.

We…we are dumb. And we need huge wake up calls to get it.

Three times Jesus came back to his disciples and found them asleep. He told them to get up and pray so they stayed awake while he was able to pray.

The second time it states the disciples didn’t know what to say to him.

I always read this part as if they were dumb.

But now I see it differently. These men are being told by their friend – that his time has come. That he will be betrayed. And that they will all fall away.

Did they sleep from exhaustion? Did they cry? Did they look at each other in mistrust?

The third time Jesus came back he told them to get up as his betrayer was coming.

Psalm 31:9-31:18

In this psalm he cries out to God to restore his reputation. Many are lying about him and he says his friends flee from him when they see him on the street.

‘Let the wicked be put to shame and be silent in the realm of the dead. Let their lying lips be silenced, for with pride and contempt they speak arrogantly against the righteous.’

That was my prayer not long ago…

Let their lying lips be silenced…

But God doesn’t always answer prayers they way we want. And I’m so grateful for Him.

Day 66

Numbers 9:15-11:3

So God led the Israelites by a cloud that at night would look like fire.

When the cloud was there. They would stay. When it lifted they would set out on the move.

I want to yell ‘hey God can you do that for me please?!’ I find it almost frustrating at times how very clear and obvious He made himself in the Old Testament and now I find myself BEGGING for any sign. But I realize our times have changed. If a cloud sat above me the government I am sure would be flying drones into it and trying to bomb it. I think we’ve hindered God from speaking the way He used to.

They also blew trumpets when it was time to head out. I’ll have to do a bit more research as to why this was so significant. But on Percocet right now it’s hard enough to just understand what I’m reading.

Oh how selfish a people we are. God has done soooo much for the Israelites at this time. And to show their gratitude they complain. Complained about how hard it was for them. Woah is them. So God started to set fire to the camp. He is God. What did they think?! Moses prayed and God calmed the fire.

But really. Really?

Mark 13:32-14:16

Talk about the end. When God will return. How no one knows except God. So be awake. And be prepared.

A scheme was being set up to arrest Jesus and kill him. But Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread was in two days. They decided to wait so there wouldn’t be riots.

This is a story that always makes me pause. The perfume lady. Apparently this perfume she has in her jar could be sold for a years worth of money. And she took it and poured it on Jesus’s head.

The crowd got angry and some wondered why she didn’t sell it and give the money to the poor!

Jesus told them though – that the poor will be there but His time was near. And that she was preparing him for his burial.

At this point Judas, one of the twelve disciples, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus. They promised him money in exchange for Jesus.

It was now time to prepare the Passover meal. Which will become the Last Supper.

Psalm 31:1-31:8

This Psalm talks a lot about taking refuge in The Lord.

Refuge – something that provides shelter.

God will keep us safe.

Oops!

Arriving at the gym I realized it was actually sauna day. It’s a wonder to me why establishments try so hard to make their places 115 degrees in the winter. First we are all actually dressed for winter. It’s helpful to not have to get naked to shop. Second a gym? We are hot and sweaty and gross. We don’t need the heat!

I made it 20 minutes into my cardio routine when I couldn’t take watching some horse movie on the screen while the guy next to me only breathed out of his nose as if he was the horse.

Hitting the weight floor there was almost no weights to use and every bench was covered in our college and high school youth who I can’t wait to go back to school! No weights for me.

Heading to the grocery store I decided to grab the last few items I need to bake a months worth of meals.

Senior. Citizens. Are. Frightening.

Apparently it’s the first Wednesday of the month which means STAY AT HOME IF YOU ARE SANE! I actually kept giggling as I tried to maneuver me and my basket (no carts available) through the aisles. Until the produce section where I was squeezing through 6 carts and a sweet lady on her phone pretended she didn’t see me and tried to barrel through me. She said she was sorry and continued to push me. I stated at her in shock until she stopped pushing and backed up letting me go.

I ran to the cashier at that point and seeing a dear friend screamed ‘save me!!!’ over and over. She informed me it was a bad day to go. As I was cracking up and laughing a little lady who hit me twice already with her cart came up and began to ask me questions. My gym clothes must have screamed ‘I work here’. I signaled the worker who just stood there listening to help the poor dear. Then I booked it home.

Quite impressed with myself I made enough meals for 24 packaged portions. But had to stop when my oven locked on me. Literally locked. Won’t open. I have 25 more meals to make and 6 batches of cookies. But I’m locked out. This should have been my first clue to sit down. And not move. Wait. Maybe my third clue.

1) no room at the gym
2) no carts at the store
3) appliances shutting me out

Instead I decided to tackle cleaning.

Passing the fan in my room I was sad to see how dusty the thing was. Seriously. Gross. So I grabbed my vacuum and headed to suck it up. As I unattached the hose about a bucket worth of pine needles landed all over me and all the freshly cleaned clothes. :::sigh::: Guess I’ll shake those out and put them away.

Clothes in their places, I tackle the vacuum. It is actually leaving more dirt behind then it is sucking up. So to my handy dandy tool box I go. Vacuum taken apart and hose unclogged. Upon vacuuming the floor and all the pine needles left behind I actually found like NO DIRT in the vacuum. I patted myself on the back for being so clean.

Next comes the dirty fan. (Now ignoring the fourth clue to just sit down)

The vacuum won’t really get the dust and I now have to vacuum again. So taking the fan apart I wash one piece and then try the vacuum again. No suckage. Back to the tools.

Another hose was COMPLETELY clogged and so gross. Flashlights, screw drivers and one stick later my vacuum now works again. WOOOHOOO!!!

Put the fan back together. Turn it on. Broken.

Is that my fifth or sixth clue to sit down? Oh well, we know I don’t listen.

Banging the fan (maybe that will work) even MORE dust flies out. Like huge giant lumps of nasty dust. Go get the vacuum again. Suck up MORE dust. Hey! Vacuum doesn’t break. We are on a roll.

Grab a rag to wipe the fan and stand off and stare at the fan willing if to work. With the fan front off I turn it on and spin the blade AND IT WORKS!!!

At this point I should have layed down and not gotten up til morning. But I can see dust on the fan and I have this rag…so why not wipe if down.

And it was at that point I tried to remove my finger with the powerful spinning blade. A tiny dot of blood and an instant black finger let me know it was my time to quit.

Turned the fan off, replaced the front, turned it on and walked away. I’ll finish with the dust and the vacuum later.

As soon as the ice is off the finger and the swelling is down.

Actually I’m gonna just sit on this couch I think. And call maintenance to fix the oven.