Will You Pray for Me?

 A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood 

I purchased this movie for my spouse for Christmas. Actor Tom Hanks portrays Fred Rogers. It’s a great movie but it’s not about the man, it’s about his love for children and a magazine writer overcoming his hatred for his father.

It’s based on this article,

Can you say- Hero?

http://www.thedqtimes.com/pages/castpages/other/fredrogerscanyousayheropg1.htm

Why do I recommend you read the article and watch the movie?

Fred had an interesting way of praying for people who were dying. Everyday he got on his knees and prayed for them by name, their full name. But the interesting part is when he asked the person who was on the deathbed to pray for him. He would say something to the affect..... what you’re going through right now, you must really be close to God. Will you pray for me?

We have all told people we will pray for them but Fred’s way of asking for prayer for himself brings a different dimension to a prayer request.

It’s a similar technique to my question. “How are you holding up today?” 

Instead of asking. How are you doing today? With the latter you get the canned response, “ok” while the person is holding a smiley mask over their face. 

When you ask, how are you holding up today?..., they aren’t used to the question and they have to think about it. You will most likely peel back the onion and receive an honest response.

The same technique is used with Fred’s prayer request. “What you’re going through right now, you must really be close to God. Will you pray for me?”

The person that we believe that needs prayer has been thinking about their life, about what they wished they have done differently, about dying. 

When you ask them to pray for you, it gets them thinking differently.

We all need prayer intervention and who knows, they might respond.... I don’t know how..... and a door will open.

Will you pray for me?

Blessings, David 

Numbers 1:1-4 Census-Accounting!

 1On the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites had come out of the land of Egypt, the LORD spoke to Moses in the Tent of Meeting in the Wilderness of Sinai. He said: 2“Take a census of the whole congregation of Israel by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one.

3You and Aaron are to number those who are twenty years of age or older by their divisions—everyone who can serve in Israel’s army. 4And one man from each tribe, the head of each family, must be there with you.

“Exodus covered a year; Leviticus only a month - but the Book of Numbers encompasses more than 38 years.” (Guzik)

Census in the Bible, 36 occurrences in 9 translations

Source: https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/words/Census

The census in this with scripture was taken because it was preparation for battle. The Israelites would have to fight for the promised land.

Most of us are aware of this census,

Luke 2: 1Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole empire. 2This was the first census to take place while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3And everyone went to his own town to register.

4So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, since he was from the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child.

The United States Census is a census that is legally mandated by the US Constitution, and takes place every 10 years.

Another type of census-accounting!

Revelation 20:15 And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Are you ready for this census-accounting?

What about your family and friends?

Blessings, David 

Leviticus 27:30-34 Conclusion

 30Thus any tithe from the land, whether from the seed of the land or the fruit of the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD. 31If a man wishes to redeem part of his tithe, he must add a fifth to its value.

32Every tenth animal from the herd or flock that passes under the shepherd’s rod will be holy to the LORD. 33He must not inspect whether it is good or bad, and he shall not make any substitution. But if he does make a substitution, both the animal and its substitute shall become holy; they cannot be redeemed.’ ”

34These are the commandments that the LORD gave to Moses for the Israelites on Mount Sinai.

“READER, thou hast now gone through the whole of this most interesting book; a book whose subject is too little regarded by Christians in general. Here thou mayest discover the rigid requisitions of Divine justice, the sinfulness of sin, the exceeding breadth of the commandment, and the end of all human perfection... By this law then is the knowledge, but not the cure of sin... We see then that Christ was the END of the law for righteousness (for justification) to every one that believeth.” (Clarke)

“In the Book of Leviticus the children of Israel were marking time at Mount Sinai. The book opens and concludes at the same geographical spot, Mount Sinai, where God gave the Law. Exodus concludes with the tabernacle constructed and the glory of the Lord filling it. Leviticus gives the order and rules of worship in the tabernacle. The Hebrew word Vayikrah opens the book, and it means “and He called.” God moves into the tabernacle and speaks from there rather than from Mount Sinai. He calls the people to Him and tells them how to come. This is the exact meaning of the church — ekklesia, “called out ones.” The Lord Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice” (John 10:27).” (Dr. J. Vernon McGee)

When I lived in Arizona I had found Dr. J. Vernon McGee on the radio and enjoyed listening to him. His style of teaching is different than others and he grew on me. While preparing today’s study I found his notes on Leviticus and wish I had found them earlier. They are short and only 8 pages including book references of recommended reading. 

Enjoy & Blessings, David 

https://ttb.org/docs/default-source/notes-outlines/no4_leviticus.pdf?sfvrsn=f4791c16_2

Leviticus 27:26-29 Belongs to the Lord!

 26But no one may consecrate a firstborn of the livestock, because a firstborn belongs to the LORD. Whether it is an ox or a sheep, it is the LORD’s. 27But if it is among the unclean animals, then he may redeem it according to your valuation and add a fifth of its value. If it is not redeemed, then it shall be sold according to your valuation.

28Nothing that a man sets apartl to the LORD from all he owns—whether a man, an animal, or his inherited land—can be sold or redeemed; everything so devoted is most holy to the LORD.

29No person set apart for destruction may be ransomed; he must surely be put to death.

 No devoted thing to the Lord could be redeemed, bought back because it belonged to the Lord, it is the Lord’s.

“In this sense also, one could not escape execution by being “bought back” from the LORD; they had to face the penalty for their crime.” (Guzik)

You were bought for a price!

1 Corinthians 7:23 God paid a high price for you, so don’t be enslaved by the world.

The price was Jesus Christ himself!

If you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you belong to the Lord and nothing can take you out of His grasp! 

John 10:28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand.

You either belong to the Lord or to Satan.

Who do you belong to?

Blessings, David 

Leviticus 27:16-25 Property Valuation!

 16If a man consecrates to the LORD a parcel of his land, then your valuation shall be proportional to the seed required for it—fifty shekels of silver for every homer of barley seed.j 17If he consecrates his field during the Year of Jubilee, the price will stand according to your valuation.

18But if he consecrates his field after the Jubilee, the priest is to calculate the price in proportion to the years left until the next Year of Jubilee, so that your valuation will be reduced. 19And if the one who consecrated the field decides to redeem it, he must add a fifth to the assessed value, and it shall belong to him.

20If, however, he does not redeem the field, or if he has sold it to another man, it may no longer be redeemed. 21When the field is released in the Jubilee, it will become holy, like a field devoted to the LORD; it becomes the property of the priests.

22Now if a man consecrates to the LORD a field he has purchased, which is not a part of his own property, 23then the priest shall calculate for him the value up to the Year of Jubilee, and the man shall pay the assessed value on that day as a sacred offering to the LORD. 24In the Year of Jubilee the field shall return to the one from whom it was bought—the original owner of the land. 25Every valuation will be according to the sanctuary shekel, twenty gerahs to the shekel.

“For land, its value was based on it potential production, as well as the number of years until the Year of Jubilee.” (Guzik)

Property Valuation (tax)! Michigan has what’s called the homestead property tax credit which is used if you live in your primary home for more than six months. But if you don’t or own a second property you are taxed at the normal rate. Unfortunately some assessor’s play fast with this law. We have a neighbor who’s husband passed away so she took a job downstate. Our assessor reversed her homestead property tax without her permission. She appealed, won and had the homestead property tax reinstated.

In this scripture the valuation went to the sanctuary treasury but the property tax valuation I described goes into the state treasury.

What is the value of a soul?

Matthew 16: 26What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

Blessings, David

Leviticus 27:14-15 Me and my house!

 14Now if a man consecrates his house as holy to the LORD, then the priest shall value it either as good or bad. The price will stand just as the priest values it. 15But if he who consecrated his house redeems it, he must add a fifth to the assessed value, and it will belong to him.

Today we celebrate Christmas, the birth of our savior, our Lord.

Joshua 24 has touched me in a time that the Lord touched me when I was down into the pit of despair. In my previous house I wrote this verse (highlighted) on the wall so when anyone walked into the front door they knew exactly where I stood in my faith. 

15But if it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!”

Is your house consecrated as holy to the Lord?

Merry Christmas and blessings to you and your family. David

The Rock Foundation Proverbs 24:3

 When I was 4 years old my family moved into a 100 year old farmhouse in the country. It had a basement made out of stone. It was dark and damp and I hated going down there. That foundation kept that house standing until last year when I heard the old farmhouse had been torn down. That old farmhouse had a firm foundation, a foundation built to last.

Proverbs 24:3

A house is built by wisdom 

and becomes strong through good sense.

Psalm 118:22 22The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.

Matthew 7:24-25 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.”

Isaiah 26:4 4Trust in the LORD always, for the LORD God is the eternal Rock.

And 1 Corinthians 3:11 tells us  11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.

The people that built that farmhouse over 150 years ago to build it strong to last. If we want a faith that lasts, we need a firm foundation too. 

Jesus is our Cornerstone.

Jesus is our Rock.

Jesus is our Eternal Rock.

Jesus is our Foundation. 

What have you built your house on?

In His Name, Cecilia 

The old farmhouse shortly before it was torn down in 2019. 

The house how it looked in its early days. 

Leviticus 27:9-13 Redemption has a high price!

 9If he vows an animal that may be brought as an offering to the LORD, any such animal given to the LORD shall be holy. 10He must not replace it or exchange it, either good for bad or bad for good. But if he does substitute one animal for another, both that animal and its substitute will be holy.

11But if the vow involves any of the unclean animals that may not be brought as an offering to the LORD, the animal must be presented before the priest. 12The priest shall set its value, whether high or low; as the priest values it, the price will be set. 13If, however, the owner decides to redeem the animal, he must add a fifth to its value.

“If an animal was clean (fit for sacrifice), and you wanted to redeem it from the vow of consecration to the LORD (perhaps because the animal was especially useful), you could exchange it for another animal - as long as that animal was also clean, and equally suitable for sacrifice.” (Guzik)

To redeem a unclean animal (like a donkey) the owner would have to pay the price the priest set plus 20%. 

What value could we place on Jesus for His sacrifice?

Jesus couldn’t have been redeemed, replaced or exchanged!

Which is why He came down from heaven, there was no other way to redeem our souls from sin.

Redemption has a high price, remember that when we celebrate His birth on Christmas Day! 

Do you celebrate His birthday with a cake on Christmas Day?

Happy birthday Jesus!

Blessings, David 

What Christmas is all about!

  How do you celebrate the birth of our Savior?

Most people celebrate tradition when celebrating Christmas.

When I say tradition I mean how they were raised in their family and how their family celebrated Christmas.

In the United States we usually set up a Christmas tree. Ours has become a small artificial tree about 4’ in height and has ornaments collected through the years including antiques that were grandma’s.

Do you get caught up in the commercialism of gift giving? We give gifts but they have evolved to ones of necessity with now and then splurging on a want. 

But we keep in our hearts the real gift of salvation. There have been years we have forgone ourselves and used our resources to give gifts to a family in need.

What’s your favorite Christmas movie? There are many classics but they usually aren’t biblically correct even though they are entertaining and fall into the category of tradition. Several we’ve watched recently are “Paper Angels” and “Christmas for a Dollar”.

What is your favorite Christmas meal? Our breakfast tradition is eggs benedict but has transformed into gluten free, usually with homemade corn bread-muffins. Dinner is a spiral cut ham this year that was on sale but could be turkey or a venison roast depending on what the Lord has made provision for.

In the Southwest the Hispanic culture usually has homemade tamales but they have to contain the green olive for good luck, some use pitted olives 🫒while others leave the pit so you have to be careful while eating. The family usually spends the evening before making them from scratch. Yummy 🤤 

One of our family traditions was Christmas Eve at grandma’s house and she always seemed to know what clothes you needed and sometimes added a little cash if you were on your own starting out in life. Grandma was always good for a ham with other delicacies. Her house always had the welcoming aroma of good homemade food.

Whatever tradition you practice remember, 

Luke 2: 6While they were there, the time came for her Child to be born. 7And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

8And there were shepherds residing in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night. 9Just then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: 11Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord! 12And this will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

13And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying:

14“Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace to men

on whom His favor rests!”

This reminds me of what Christmas is all about, and another movie!

A Charlie Brown Christmas!

May your Christmas be a blessed one and if you can’t spend it with family there is always FaceTime or Zoom. Prearrange a time, send out a request and enjoy 😊.

Blessings, David

Leviticus 27:1-8 Value of the Man!

 1Then the LORD said to Moses, 2“Speak to the Israelites and say to them, ‘When someone makes a special vow to the LORD involving the value of persons, 3if the valuation concerns a male from twenty to sixty years of age, then your valuation shall be fifty shekels of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel. 4Or if it is a female, then your valuation shall be thirty shekels. 5And if the person is from five to twenty years of age, then your valuation for the male shall be twenty shekels, and for the female ten shekels.

6Now if the person is from one month to five years of age, then your valuation for the male shall be five shekels of silver, and for the female three shekels of silver. 7And if the person is sixty years of age or older, then your valuation shall be fifteen shekels for the male and ten shekels for the female. 8But if the one making the vow is too poor to pay the valuation, he is to present the personi before the priest, who shall set the value according to what the one making the vow can afford.

“A vow is a promise made to God voluntarily and not in obedience to any divine requirement.” (Morgan)

“It was not a sin to refrain from making a vow (Deuteronomy 23:22), but once a vow was made, it had to be kept (Deuteronomy 23:21–23; Numbers 30:2; Ecclesiastes 5:4–6). Substitutions could be made, however, and it was this possibility of making a substitution that distinguished the vow from the sacrificial offering made on the altar.” (Rooker)

“The prices (values) of the individuals should be understood as representing either the wage of a worker (which was a shekel a month in the biblical period) or the relative worth of the value of the person’s services in the tabernacle. If the services included heavy manual labor in working with sacrificial animals or in transporting the tabernacle, it is easy to see why young men would be given higher value.” (Rooker)

“Reader, hast thou ever dedicated thyself, or any part of thy property, to the service of thy Maker? If so, hast thou paid thy vows? Or hast thou altered thy purpose, or changed thy offering?” (Clarke)

It’s easy to say in our modern age the value between a man and a woman is sexist but we need to remember two things:

1. The Lord set the value.
2. The value was in agricultural terms, the worth of a worker according to their physical strength.

Matthew 20: 11On receiving their pay, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12‘These men who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.’

13But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Did you not agree with me on one denarius? 14Take your pay and go. I want to give this last man the same as I gave you. 15Do I not have the right to do as I please with what is mine? Or are you envious because I am generous?’

The Lord is generous indeed! Our salvation is based upon what Jesus did upon the cross and our acceptance and belief in Him as our Lord and Savior.

It not based upon physical strength, sex, or the value set by man. It’s based on the value of the sacrificial lamb 🐑and the value of the Son’s blood 🩸 spilt on the cross!

What value does the Bible set on the Man, Jesus Christ?

What value could you place on Him who set you free?

Blessings, David 

Leviticus 26:40-46 Yielding our spirit!

 40But if they will confess their iniquity and that of their fathers in the unfaithfulness that they practiced against Me, by which they have also walked in hostility toward Me— 41and I acted with hostility toward them and brought them into the land of their enemies—and if their uncircumcised hearts will be humbled and they will make amends for their iniquity, 42then I will remember My covenant with Jacob and My covenant with Isaac and My covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land.

43For the land will be abandoned by them, and it will enjoy its Sabbaths by lying desolate without them. And they will pay the penalty for their iniquity, because they rejected My ordinances and abhorred My statutes.

44Yet in spite of this, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject or despise them so as to destroy them and break My covenant with them; for I am the LORD their God. 45But for their sake I will remember the covenant with their fathers, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God. I am the LORD.”

46These are the statutes, ordinances, and laws that the LORD established between Himself and the Israelites through Moses on Mount Sinai.

These truths!

“I am the LORD.” 

“But if they will confess their iniquity”

“and if their uncircumcised hearts will be humbled and they will make amends for their iniquity”

We need to yield our spirit to the Lord:

If we confess and humble ourselves the Lord will forgive us!

“And they will pay the penalty for their iniquity”

Jesus paid the penalty for our iniquity on the cross!

In His last dying breath He said, it is finished!

John 19:30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished.” And bowing His head, He yielded up His spirit.

Jesus yielded His spirit for you, have you yielded your spirit to Him?

Blessings, David

Leviticus 26:36-39 Faintness!

 36As for those of you who survive, I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies, so that even the sound of a windblown leaf will put them to flight. And they will flee as one flees the sword, and fall when no one pursues them. 37They will stumble over one another as before the sword, though no one is behind them. So you will not be able to stand against your enemies.

38You will perish among the nations, and the land of your enemies will consume you. 39Those of you who survive in the lands of your enemies will waste away in their iniquity and will decay in the sins of their fathers.

Faintness

1. (n.) The state of being faint; loss of strength, or of consciousness, and self-control.

2. (n.) Want of vigor or energy.

3. (n.) Feebleness, as of color or light; lack of distinctness; as, faintness of description.

4. (n.) Faint-heartedness; timorousness; dejection.

https://biblehub.com/topical/f/faintness.htm

I recently watched a video of a nurse who was “volunteering” at a news conference and received the Covid vaccination. While talking on camera she became lightheaded and fainted.

Strongs Hebrew defines faintness as weariness, dismay, despair, softness ie. fear.

Have you ever felt faint of heart?

Blessings, David

Leviticus 26:27-35 Warnings of hostility!

 27But if in spite of all this you do not obey Me, but continue to walk in hostility toward Me, 28then I will walk in fury against you, and I, even I, will punish you sevenfold for your sins. 29You will eat the flesh of your own sons and daughters. 30I will destroy your high places, cut down your incense altars, and heap your lifeless bodies on the lifeless remains of your idols; and My soul will despise you.

31I will reduce your cities to rubble and lay waste your sanctuaries, and I will refuse to smell the pleasing aroma of your sacrifices. 32And I will lay waste the land, so that your enemies who dwell in it will be appalled. 33But I will scatter you among the nations and will draw out a sword after you as your land becomes desolate and your cities are laid waste.

34Then the land shall enjoy its Sabbaths all the days it lies desolate, while you are in the land of your enemies. At that time the land will rest and enjoy its Sabbaths. 35As long as it lies desolate, the land will have the rest it did not receive during the Sabbaths when you lived in it.

Warnings of hostility!

As we study these scriptures have you really understood the warnings the Lord has given in them?

Can you draw the parallels in them to our present times?

Everything in these scriptures happened as promised to the Israelites. 

What percentage of our population walks in hostility towards God?

Blessings, David 

Leviticus 26:23-26 Sevenfold!

 Leviticus 26:23And if in spite of these things you do not accept My discipline, but continue to walk in hostility toward Me, 24then I will act with hostility toward you, and I will strike you sevenfold for your sins. 25And I will bring a sword against you to execute the vengeance of the covenant. Though you withdraw into your cities, I will send a plague among you, and you will be delivered into the hand of the enemy.

“I will strike you sevenfold “.....

Sevenfold (seven times as great) for your sins. Our sins are too numerous, to many to count! Do you remember Peter asking Jesus how many times we are to forgive?

Matthew 18: 21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

22Jesus answered, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times!e

22 e Or seventy times seven ; see Genesis 4:24 LXX

Genesis 4:24If Cain is avenged sevenfold,

then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”g

24 g Hebrew; LXX can be translated as either seventy times seven  or seventy-sevenfold ; see also Matthew 18:22.

Leviticus 26:26When I cut off your supply of bread, ten women will bake your bread in a single oven and dole out your bread by weight, so that you will eat but not be satisfied.

“There will be so little that they will have to measure out the small quantities to each recipient. Compare Ezekiel 4:16–17.” (Peter-Contesse)

If we wish that the Lord would strike sinners sevenfold for their sins, would we even be here to see it?

I say no! Because we would have been struck!

Blessings, David