HSBC Coffeebreak

Moses said to the Lord, “May the Lord, the God of the spirits of all mankind, appoint a man over this community to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the Lord’s people will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”
Numbers 27:15-17 NIV

As I studied the book of Numbers, I was impressed with the responsibilities of Moses’ job as the Israelite’s leader. Right from the start, he had trouble with the people. They didn’t want to follow his leading; it seemed easier to stay where they were in life.

Moses earnestly sought God and God showed Himself to Moses like none other. In Numbers 12:3 we read that Moses was the most humble man ever. He set out to deliver people who had been in bondage for so long and they fought him most of the way. God performed miracle after miracle to help them escape and to show them His might. Time after time the people lost their faith, fell to fear, then grumbled and complained about their circumstances. Moses pressed on, even pleading with God to forgive their lack of faith.

I don’t know if it is because I am human or if it is because I am female, but I sure don’t like to be taken for granted. As I read through Numbers, I saw that Moses was unappreciated. So when he fell short of the mark, when he struck the rock to get water and basically took all the credit for rather than honoring God as holy, it didn’t seem like all that big of a fall. But to God, it was a huge deal. God said, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.” It seems unreasonable that God would give him such harsh punishment.

Our flesh tries to weigh things out and decide what is fair. We seem to put all of the good things on one side of the scale and the bad things on the other side. From what we read about Moses, the good far outweighs the bad, so he should be in… right? This one dishonoring act that demonstrated his lack of trust in God was enough for God to make a statement. Wow! I don’t think I would have taken it as easily as Moses did. I would have been tempted to negotiate with God. If that didn’t work, I probably would have tried to stack the scales where I looked good. When that didn’t produce the results I wanted, I would have become just like all of the other Israelites… I would grumble and complain.

In chapter 27 when God tells Moses to climb the mountain and take a good look at the Promised Land and then die on that mountain top, Moses sees the Land he will never enter… the Land that he has labored and sacrificially given his life up for to lead an ungrateful people to. Moses had to have had some human feelings, but the only thing recorded is, “Moses said to the Lord, ’May the Lord, the God of the spirits of all mankind, appoint a man over this community to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the Lord’s people will not be like sheep without a shepherd.’” When it could feel like he was getting the shaft, he chose not to fall to those feelings. His desire was for the peoples’ well being. What a testimony of leadership!

When I stop and think about it, that is exactly what Jesus did - our perfect example… loving others above self. Moses gave his life for the people and they were ungrateful.

Lord, forgive me for the times I have been ungrateful to you and to the servants you have appointed to lead me. – Amen

Written by
Liz Anderson

HSBC Coffeebreak

Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.
Proverbs 4:25

Okay, let's face it, being surrounded by boxes and things that need to find their way into boxes is not my idea of fun. I had not been feeling all that agreeable with God lately as the date of my train leaving for Kraków, Poland approached -- the packing, the good-byes, the details to finish up. I felt like I was finally getting settled in my purpose as a missionary in Poznan, Poland, so moving to Krakow seemed uncomfortable. Then God showed me a glimpse of His agenda this week....

...Kasia had learned that I would no longer be in Poznan for a while. She was sad. "Theresa, I write to you with tears in my eyes that I won't able to see you before you leave. God is teaching me many lessons. One of which is to give time to others and not just keep my time to myself. Now you are gone and we cannot meet for coffee."

I wasn't thinking about Kasia when I was waiting for my bus. "No, that isn't my bus. Where is my bus? Oh, I guess I am a bit early," were the thoughts running through my head that morning. Through a course of silly events (in this day, I didn't read the clock correctly), I ended up at a bus stop too early. As I waited for my bus, another bus went by.....

The next day, Kasia wrote again. "God gave me a small surprise. I saw you waiting at a bus stop. A small gift to see you and a reminder of God's love for me and His willingness to be involved in the small things as well as the big!"

I arrived early to a bus stop. I think I did read the clock correctly, so I could be seen by a friend from the church! A reminder that if God is arranging the small things, then I guess the move (which seems big right now) is in God's hands too. In spite of the pain in moving, I know the move is part of God's agenda. Even during this time I will begin to demonstrate an "exciting faith" (as a supporter encouraged me to get a new view of moving)...that I will know that God has HIS hand on my life and if He needs me to move, by George, who am I to stubbornly disagree? So I will be moving - and experiencing the abundant life. Staying where I am will not give that life...living in His will, soaring on His wings is the only fulfilling place to be. So I will not only be packing, but doing it with a joyful heart!

Written by
Theresa Zacher

HSBC Coffeebreak

“Look at the birds of the air…. Are you not worth much more than they?”
Matthew 6:26 NASB

It came close, sucked up tight and hung on. It reminded me of its presence as it tried to dig a little deeper into my being. Its name was FEAR, and it had taken hold of me when my insides had been pierced with pain. This wasn’t the first piercing, and it seemed that each new cut went a little deeper. I trembled, I hurt, I cried and I poured my heart out to the Lord.

In the days to come, I struggled with anger toward the one who had done the piercing. A battle took place within my heart. I loved the person dearly, yet I had been hurt deeply. Worse yet, I realized my growing fear of this person. As the day approached when we would meet again, I desperately prayed that God would help me to genuinely love this person.

My Heavenly Father prompted me to reach out to another believer for prayer support and accountability, which also led me to memorize a Bible verse specifically for my situation. I chose Isaiah 41:10, “Do not fear for I am with you. Do not anxiously look about you for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you. Surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

The day came and I, with a friend, set out for the journey. I sat in the passenger seat of the car recalling the verse that I had hidden in my heart. Knowing that I was weak, I had also taken my special notebook of Scripture verses with the intent to drink in God’s love and strength as we drove.

I did love the person whom I was going to see, but the pain overshadowed my love. I wanted to feel love for this person, but I didn’t. Willpower couldn’t force the shadows away. It seemed that my love for this person was all used up.

As I meditated on a few different verses, God spoke to my heart telling me that I could not love that person, but that He would love that person through me. It wouldn’t be my love, but instead, His love. Tenderly, my Heavenly Father assured me of His love for me and invited me to think about my worth in Him. I felt my Father filling me with His love and knew this was the genuine love that He would enable me to share.

I turned the page in my notebook and came upon Matthew 6:26. I sat in quiet contemplation of my worth in Christ and how God values me more than the birds of the air. I closed my eyes, soaking this truth in. Peace and strength began to overtake the dark shadows. I opened my misty eyes, still thinking of God’s amazing love and what did I see?

A beautiful bird was perched on a reed alongside the road just in front of our car. The delicate bird lifted its wings and gently flew in a small low circle beside the highway, then landed on the same reed again. By now, tears were streaming down my face.

It was late winter and this was the first bird that I had seen in months, and it was the only bird I saw that day. I believe God put that little bird there just for me. He knew exactly when I would be thinking about Matthew 6:26, and He knew exactly when I would open my eyes. In His sovereignty, God lovingly placed one of His birds in the perfect place at the perfect time. It was a beautiful and thoughtful monument of His care for me! For the rest of the day, I carried not only Isaiah 41:10 in my heart, but also a visual reminder of my Heavenly Father’s love.

God’s love overtook my fears that day. His care strengthened and enabled me to love the person whom I feared…the one who had hurt me so deeply…the one whom I had run out of love for. It was not easy. However, God had equipped me with what I needed, and He did the rest. Several times throughout the day I silently quoted Isaiah 41:10. The “bird scene” replayed in my mind, and my Heavenly Father and I engaged in silent communication many times. All glory to God, I can say that love won!

Oh Mighty Father,
Thank you for loving me with such an incredibly amazing and tender love-- that I could never deserve. I praise You for what YOU did, and I thank you for strengthening me to be a vessel of Your love in the face of fear.
Amen.

Written by
Jodeen Erickson