Numbers: come to your census

I thought having Leviticus punch me in the gut was bad…

I moved on to Numbers, thinking, “surely I won’t learn much here”

But again, I was schooled.

God loves numbers. He loves counting. He loves measuring. God is super good at math. I think it’s safe to say God did whisper to me the answers in Calculus when I prayed those desperate prayers before tests. 

God promises to rescue us, a lot. 

Oh and God loves to party. He likes it when we have fun, aka rejoice. 

God also loved rules back when… phew. Lots of special rules and hoops to jump through, and He made sure to communicate allllllllll of them to Moses. 

Reading Numbers, I learned a lot. I learned that I should never beat a donkey. I also learned that if a donkey ever speaks reason into me, I’m probably the one acting like a… ahem… donkey. And that people who beat donkeys end up dying by sword wound a few chapters later. 

I learned that God hates it when we reject His plan for us, especially over food preferences. I definitely had a peanut butter heart check.

God says “I am giving you the service of ____________ as a gift” in Chapter 18… serving God is a God-given gift! Thank You, Lord, for redundancy and grace!

Back in the day, God solved impatience with venomous snakes. Thank You Jesus, for sparing me from the snakes. 

I learned that one does not simply walk into Edom. If you get this reference, you are a very special breed and I love you so much. 

God loves musicals… People are always bursting into song in the Bible, even in the most random places. It adds to my amusement when I sing the songs in my own weird way. (Sidenote: if I’m reading a book by a British author, I read it with a Brit accent in my head [I kid you not!] and you should have seen me smiling while reading a book by KP Yohannan, who is from India, because [yep, you guessed it] I read it with an Indian accent in my head. I should probably add the note here that when the donkey spoke in Chapter 22, I read it with the same accent as the donkey in Shrek… and it was super funny.) I should probably make a video of me singing the Song of Moses hahaha I am ridiculous sometimes, I do acknowledge this. I think it makes Jesus laugh, so I keep on :]

So Moses and Aaron screw up big time. They disobey God and lose out on the promise land. Total bummer. 

Miriam gets leprosy for a week because she ran her mouth. Seriously, guys, we should be SO thankful for Christ. Can you imagine getting leprosy for talking some smack? We would go bananas.

Then in the end of Numbers, God has the Israelites run another census after the plagues and the battles and the epic sinner smite-a-thon that took place. 

They count all the people, they count lots of gold. 

I, in turn, counted my blessings.

Bible-In-A-Year Discipline

 (((((disclaimer, I'm already over halfway in Numbers, but when I wrote this, I was still in Leviticus!!)))))

Yeah okay so sometimes I just straight-up don’t feel like reading Leviticus.
I’m weird enough that I do have times when I enjoy it and crave it. I crave the weirdness and the awkward laws. I want to hear about the sprinkling blood and the fat wave offerings and how they determined if somebody was “unclean” from an infectious skin disease.

I’m not legalistic enough to feel bad if I don’t read the 3 or so chapters of LEVITICUS every single day, just because it’s on my reading list.
I’m reading the Bible chronologically, and I gotta be honest, with travel days and crazy outings and brand new ministries left and right… I’m behind.
I’m supposed to start Numbers today. I still have 13 chapters left in Leviticus.
Have I read every single day? You bet. I love it. But sometimes I need different food. Something other than Leviticus. Sometimes I need Micah, or Philippians. Sometimes I need Isaiah, or Jude.

We as Christians get really really down on ourselves when we set goals and don’t pull through. I want to encourage anybody who’s on any kind of “schedule” Bible reading plan, whether it was a New Year resolution or a random whim of zealous obedience. If you get behind, chin up. Enjoy God’s word. It’s not homework. It’s not a chore. It is such a gift and privilege to be able to read the Word of God.
The minute you catch yourself panicking or dreading the scheduled reading, you need a heart check.

Why are you reading?
To know God more. To have God reveal Himself to you in a new way.

I can tell you a few reasons why you’re not reading…
You’re not reading to earn Pharisee points.
You’re not reading to prove to God (or yourself) how disciplined you are. Let’s get real. He knows how many hairs are on your head. He knows you fall short, so there’s no point kidding yourself there.
You’re not reading to memorize the entire Bible, unless you want to be like Denzel in The Book of Eli. Good luck if you are, praying for you when you get to Leviticus, just saying.
You’re not reading the WORD OF GOD because you HAVE TO.
Ironically, if you do read the Word of God, you realize that there’s nothing that you have to do besides have faith in Christ.
Everything you do now is in response to the love in your heart. Yes, this includes seeking God’s face.

Seek His face. Seek it in song. Seek it in prayer. Seek it in the Word.

If you get behind on your readings, there’s lots and lots of grace. You don’t suck as a Christian because you’re reading chapter 14 instead of chapter 27. Daddy knows your heart.
Have the discipline to seek His face. Chin up when your reading plans don’t match up to reality.

God doesn’t love you any extra when you go through checklists and have a productive day than He does when you have a hard, distracting day and get behind the schedule.

The most important thing is to seek His face. Ask for His presence no matter what the circumstances. I can assure you, there’s plenty of grace.
Christians are the most victorious, joyous, hopeful people alive.
We are guaranteed eternal bliss.
There is no reason for a child of God to ever feel defeated.

Your Daddy in Heaven is proud of you because you have the righteousness of Christ, not because you managed to read 3 chapters a day. God’s unconditional love for you is not wagered on your performance.
Thank God  for that, because we fall so short.
Thank You God for grace, for bearing with us, and for Leviticus!

And here is a cheesy high school senior picture of me with my Bible, for comedic purposes! Enjoy hahaha!!!

Rising

Do not rejoice over me, my enemy!
Though I have fallen, I will rise.
Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light. -Micah 7:8

You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.
With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.
As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless.
He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.
For who is God besides the LORD?
And who is the Rock except our God?
It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights.
He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great.
You broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn. -Psalm 18: 28-36

I’m a total winner.

Yep, I said it. I win!

I win, because I’m choosing God’s best. 

Sometimes life doesn’t really have to make sense. My choices may not look logical from the outside, but take heart. God has everything under control. He is sovereign. I am on His perfect path. I’m His daughter, royal, chosen, special, and lovely. I’m fully armed. I’m strong. I’m clothed with strength and dignity. I can laugh at the days to come. I bring good, not harm, all the days of my life. 

I am not just surviving this season anymore; I am thriving!

I feel like pumping my fist in the air and screaming on furniture.

I rebuke getting blind-sided. I rebuke the spiritual sucker punches.

Though I have fallen, I will rise… I receive that!

Smile is back on, I’m officially laughing for no reason again.

The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior! -Psalm 18:46