Category: Devotions For Seasons

Devotional Thoughts in the Seasons of our Lives written by Michele Bruxvoort and Mandy Farmer

time of favor

Psalm of Mandy: a Pain Warrior’s Prayer

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But as for me, Lord,
my prayer to you is for a time of favor. Psalm 69:13 CSB

time of favor Psalm 69
images free from canva.com

This is a paraphrase from Psalm 69. David had many times in his life when he felt he was drowning in troubles. People who suffer from chronic pain can often feel they are drowning in pain and sorrow. When I read this psalm of David I can feel my own soul praying this prayer with just a few changed words. As you read it, you may understand some of the things that chronic illness causes in our lives. My words are in [ ]. Highlighted words link to another post I have written concerning the issue.

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Plague of Blood

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Welcome back to Time in the Word. I am excited because today, we get into the thick of the showdown between God and Pharaoh. If you missed last week’s devotional, you can catch that here. Today we tackle the Plague of Blood.

I will be presenting the plagues in a different format than I usually do. Hopefully, this format will make it easier to process the information. It will also allow me to pack as much information and insights as possible. As I write this, I envision someone madly scribbling out their thoughts on a chalkboard with arrows and directions on how to follow my thoughts. Thank you for hanging in there all these weeks. It took a while to get to this point.

Grab a pen and paper. Open your Bible to Exodus 7:14-25, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=+Exodus+7%3A14-25&version=NIV. Barnes has a great free pdf to go along with our study. You can download that pdf chart here. Going forward, our devotional study will begin with:

  • supporting scripture
  • plague and its synopsis
  • gods/goddesses of Egypt God attacks
  • interesting notes and insights

Plague Number One: BLOOD

Scripture: Exodus 7:14-25

God has given Moses and Aaron instructions to meet Pharaoh at the Nile. As I’ve stated in the past devotionals, the Nile was an important part of Egyptian life. Egyptians believed that the gods blessed them through the water of the Nile. The Nile River provided life-giving water to the Egyptians for fishing, crops (during the six months it rose, it brought beautiful silt with nutrients for growing crops, left behind as it receded), and mud for making homes for their growing civilization.

Why was Pharaoh at the Nile so early in the morning? That is a good question. Biblical scholars have suggested that:

  1. Pharaoh was there to check the depth of the Nile
  2. He was there to take a bath- nobility bathed in public
  3. It was time to go to the bathroom, and he wanted to conceal his humanity- Pharaoh was thought of as a god

Whatever the reason for the Nile visit, Moses and Aaron met Pharaoh there to confront him once again. God has instructed Moses to tell Pharaoh he must let the Israelites go, and Aaron is to hold out the staff over the streams, ponds, canals and reservoirs, and God would strike the water, and the water would turn blood. This act also included water in wooden or stone jugs.

The result would be the death of fish, the water would stink, and the Egyptians would not be able to drink the water. Because the Nile had turned to blood, the Egyptians had to dig next to the Nile to find drinkable water. The land of Goshen possibly experienced this plague as well.

Moses and Aaron did as God said. The Nile and all water turned instantly turned to blood, dead fish rose to top of the Nile, and the smell was awful. Egyptians could not drink the water.

Pharaoh’s magicians performed their ‘secret arts’, and they were able to reproduce the turning of water into blood. Pharaoh’s heart was hardened. And he blew off Moses and Aaron. Seven days passed after the Nile turned to blood.

Egyptian god or goddesses the plague confronted– Barnes Bible Chart pdf

Khnum– Guardian of the Nile river’s source, https://www.britannica.com/place/Lake-Victoria

Hapi– Spirit of the Nile

Osiris– The Nile thought to be his bloodstream

Interesting notes and insights

  • Moses and Aaron showed obedience. They said and did just as God instructed.
  • Though the magicians duplicated the plague, they had to use ‘secret arts’ to perform them- Luciferian, satanic.
  • Did this plague occur in Goshen as well? This is questionable, as the Bible does not DIRECTLY speak of it affecting Goshen, where the Israelites live. Many scholars feel that the first three plagues did affect Israel as a tool to chasten them for assimilating to Egyptian life and worship of their gods.
  • Documented, historical reference of the plague/plagues in the Ipuwer Papyrus.
  • God provided the Egyptians with clean water to live. They had to dig next to the Nile, as they could not draw directly from the Nile.
  • God was letting all the Egyptians and the Israelites know he was the TRUE God.
  • We should pay attention and seek God when we see signs and wonders. The spiritual realm exists. DO NOT DOUBT IT!
  • Do not doubt God’s working in your life through various means.
  • Doubt, hardening your heart and refusing to listen lead you away from the true God.

As we think about the first plague, do you see God performing signs in wonders in your life, your work life, and the world around you? Have you asked yourself what these things may mean? Are you seeking God for wisdom and discernment?

Till next time. Thank you for joining me here in Time in the Word.

Gods and Goddesses 101

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Welcome back to Time in the Word. If you missed last week’s devotional, you can catch that here. Today we begin with Moses and Aaron’s initial visit to Pharaoh. You could consider it an official meet and greet. Though no one exchanged business cards or traded pleasantries, God is setting the stage for his power to be displayed. Today we get to dive into Gods and Goddesses 101.

Turn with me in your Bible to Exodus 5 and 6. If you are reading this digitally, you can get the scripture here. BE SURE to check out the goodies linked below. There are articles to read and helpful PDFs to print out and mull over. Enjoy!

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Ready or Not: Moses vs. Pharaoh and the Egyptian gods

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Welcome back to Time in the Word. Today we finally arrive in Egypt with Moses, and it’s about time! Moses gave God many reasons why he shouldn’t be the one to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.

God certainly displayed his grace and patience with Moses. Ready or not, you’re going to represent me, and I will show all of Egypt who the ONE TRUE GOD IS!

Before we arrive in Egypt, I left out some important details pertaining to Moses’ journey. Last week Moses was told to go back to Egypt. To go and meet with the Israelite elders. Should the elders question Moses about who sent him, he is to say ‘I AM’ has sent him. If they require a sign, he is to show them the Staff sign, the Leprous Arm sign, and then the Nile turning to blood sign.

Catching you up on what we skipped

Here are a few things we skipped:

  1. Moses told God he wasn’t good at speaking. God said that he created Moses and that he, GOD, would help him speak and then told Moses to get to Egypt. Moses didn’t like God’s response, so he told God to find somebody else. God got VERY angry with Moses. God told Moses that his brother Aaron could speak well and that Moses should feed Aaron the words, and God would speak through both of them. Take your staff and go!- I can’t help but think Moses missed something by arguing his being “less than” for the job God had for him.-M
  2. Moses says goodbye to Jethro and takes his wife and boys back to Egypt. On the way, God meets Moses and is about to kill him. Zipporah, his wife, immediately senses God’s attack on Moses is because he hasn’t circumcised one of his boys. Zipporah circumcises the boy and isn’t too happy about it.- It’d be fun to come back to this later.-M
  3. God reveals the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart. And tells Moses to warn Pharaoh if he doesn’t let Israel, God’s firstborn, go worship in the wilderness, God will take the life of Pharaoh’s firstborn son.
  4. The Lord tells Aaron to meet Moses in the wilderness. Moses shares with Aaron all that God has revealed. As well as what to say and the signs Moses is to perform.

Egypt! Let the games begin

After arriving, Aaron and Moses meet with the elders, and Aaron shares everything that Moses had said. Moses also performed the signs. The elder’s believed what was said and told. Moses and Aaron get an audience with Pharaoh. They ask that the Israelites be allowed to leave for their Festival in the wilderness.

Pharaoh is pretty cocky and unimpressed. He said, “Who is the Lord and why should I obey him…?”. Things are about to get pretty uncomfortable for Moses and Pharaoh has no idea what is coming his way.

Thank you for joining me here, today, in Time in the Word. Come back next week when Moses finds out leadership can be a lonely place.

intentional boasting

Intentionally Boast in the Cross

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boasting in the Cross of Jesus Christ
all images in this post are provided by Gerd Altmann at Pixabay & edited by Mandy Farmer

But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The world has been crucified to me through the cross, and I to the world.

Galatians 6:14 csb

Who Wrote This to Whom?

Leon Morris wrote, “Galatians is a passionate letter, the outpouring of the soul of a preacher on fire for his Lord and deeply committed to bringing his hearers to an understanding of what saving faith is.” It was written to the Churches of Galatia. It is believed that this was about 15 years following Paul’s conversion on the Road to Damascus but before the council in Jerusalem. (since it was not mentioned in the letter) ‘Galatia’ covered the territory settled by the Gauls.” There is debate about whether the letter was written to northern or southern Galatia because Paul visited them both; however, it’s a moot point because this letter has much to say to all Christians.

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God Gives Moses the Game Plan and the Outcome

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Welcome back to Time in the Word. Today we are quickly picking up where we left off last week. In case you missed last week’s devotional, you can get that here. Turn with me in your Bibles to Exodus 3:16- Exodus 4:1-29. You can find a digital link here. Moses started giving God his excuses for not being qualified to lead the Israelites out of Israel. God has ignored the excuses, and as we will see, God gives Moses the game plan along with the outcome. Has God ever given you a plan and the outcome of that plan?

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Moses: I AM and I Can’t Do This

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Welcome back to Time in the Word. This week we find a “chink in Moses’ armor” and listen to God mow down Moses’ excuses. God also shares with Moses his name; I AM. Please join me and turn to Exodus 3:11-22 in your Bibles, or you can digitally read the scripture here.

Way back a few weeks

If you’ve missed previous devotional episodes, you can catch them right here:

  1. https://www.mandyandmichele.com/the-making-of-moses-god-speaks-through-the-burning-bush-part-two/
  2. https://www.mandyandmichele.com/the-making-of-moses-god-speaks-through-the-burning-bush/
  3. https://www.mandyandmichele.com/the-making-of-moses-the-desert-years/
  4. https://www.mandyandmichele.com/the-making-of-moses-egyptian-to-hebrew/
  5. https://www.mandyandmichele.com/the-making-of-moses/

Fear is a liar

Fear is the biggest factor that holds us back from accomplishing God-sized challenges. We fear we can’t accomplish what God has asked of us. Fear we won’t have the skills necessary. We need the who, what, when, where, and why’s answered before we even accept the challenge.

God doesn’t assign us fear. Fear comes from Satan. When God presents us with a challenge and we feel fearful, we need to stop and address each fear. Maybe fear is a good indicator that we are on the right track? We need God to help us because Satan will do anything to stop us.

Excuses, excuses

Standing barefoot before a burning bush with God speaking forth, Moses begins to give God excuse #1:

  • “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh (1) and bring the Israelites out of Egypt (2)?”

God’s response: “I will be with you. And this will be a sign to you that it is I who have sent you…”

Did you see that? God completely ignored the “Why are you sending me?” and “What skills do I have to lead the Israelites out?” God said “Go! I am sending you”, and that should have been good enough. God tested Moses by giving him that command back in verse 10. Then when Moses objected and aired those objections, God used them as a way of teasing out Moses’ excuses. It’s almost as if God wanted Moses to hear himself give the excuses. God is so sneaky! “Mmm hmm. Oh sure. I see. Do go on…”

Wouldn’t it have been interesting to watch the Holy flames as Moses dithered on? Did they become more intense as Moses made his excuses? Perhaps we should be wary of sharing our excuses when God calls upon us?

Moses gives God excuse #2:

  • “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”

God’s response: “I AM WHO I AM… I AM has sent you.” And then God adds, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord,[d] the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. This is my name forever, the name you shall call me, from generation to generation.”

This time God gives Moses a direct answer to his question- I AM. God links the heritage of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to seal the deal. And he tells Moses, “I AM” will be God’s name forever.

I think that God used the heritage statement for two reasons. The first reason was to remind Moses he was a Hebrew, and that Hebrew heritage was precious. The second reason was to remind the Israelites they still had the promise God gave Abraham. God had not forgotten them during their 400-year enslavement.

Thank you, for joining me here, today in Time in the Word. Join me next week as we finish up Moses’ excuses and God gives Moses signs and wonders to perform.

Messenger of God - Jeremiah

Messenger of God – Jeremiah, Me, You

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My Word of the Year is Intentional. As I began looking for a verse that I might claim, I kept finding verses where messengers of God said, “But as for me…” I thought, “These people are intentional in their lives. I want that”. So we will start looking at these scriptures. I have some friends helping me out and they are already stepping on my toes.” So here we go… Introducing Deborah Rutherford.

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