Author Archives: cazehner

Unknown's avatar

About cazehner

I'm a woman who loves God's Word, the Bible. And I love sharing what it is God reveals to me through his Word. I pray that everything I write is consistent with Scripture, and that everyone who reads this blog will be drawn closer to the Savior. I am praying for you.

April 15

Leave a reply

I Samuel 17, Psalm 144

This is probably one of – if not the most – familiar Old Testament stories. The boy David kills the giant Goliath with one stone. The little guy destroys the big bully. The story has been referenced in politics, business, sports, warfare. But what is the spiritual truth God would have us learn from David’s story?

David was able to face Goliath, not because he trained or studied hard to prepare, not because he had confidence in himself or his ability. He would face the giant because he had confidence in God. He had seen God help him kill a lion and a bear. Hear what he said to Goliath:

You came against me with a sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will hand you over to me…

Some of us are facing giants from our past, from loss or disease, from difficult relationships. But we all face the biggest bully of all – Satan who would steal our joy, render us ineffective, cause us to doubt.

May we, like David, face our giants in the name of the Lord Almighty. May we see victory today over sin and Satan – over our giants because of Jesus.

Father in Heaven, thank you for sharing this account of David. Thank you that you are the God who defeats giants. Help us to identify our personal giants and then commit them to you. And help us to believe when it’s hard to believe that you are able to help us defeat our enemy. May we trust you today and go boldly into battle. Give us the courage we need.

April 14

Leave a reply

I Chronicles 9:35-44, 5:7-10, 5:18-22, I Samuel 15:1-16:23

God told Saul to go to battle and not take any plunder. Nothing was to come back with the Jewish soldiers. But the livestock were healthy. Saul let his men bring back healthy sheep and goats.

When Samuel called him on it Saul said he thought he would use them for sacrifices.

Once again we see an example of someone trying to go to God on their terms and not God’s. God instructed Saul to destroy everything in that city. Saul thought he had a better idea.

Let’s beware of the temptation to rationalize sin or try to convince ourselves that a sin can be used for God’s glory. It just can’t happen.

Because of his disobedience, God took the kingdom away from Saul. Samuel left Saul and never saw him again after that. Was God serious about taking no plunder? What does Scripture tell us?

Father, it’s not always easy to obey you. Sometimes we are tempted to justify a sin and still think we can serve you. Help us to realize that you mean what you say and you tell us to be holy as you are holy. You tell us to flee sin and if we entertain sin in our lives we are disobeying. Help us also to realize that the consequences for disobedience are great. We want to be a people who love you and who serve you on your terms, not ours.

April 13

Leave a reply

I Samuel 13:23-14:52, I Chronicles 8:1-9:1

Jonathon demonstrated faith in God when he went into the Philistine outpost. “Perhaps The Lord will act in our behalf,” he said. “Nothing can hinder The Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.”

God was with him that day and Jonathon and his armor-bearer were victorious in battle.

It’s true, you know. God has accomplished great things when one or two people have faith in him.

Billy Graham is one man but thousands have come to the Lord because he trusted God with his career.

Fannie Crosby was one lone blind woman who wrote hymns that still speak to people today.

Two spinster sisters we called Aunt Minnie and Aunt Rose taught Sunday School and prayed with dozens of boys and girls to receive Christ as their Savior.

God uses individuals, men and women who trust him, to win individuals. He justs asks us to have faith and get out there. Let’s remember that as Christians, he is with us and can do great things when we obey.

April 12

Leave a reply

I Samuel 10:1-13:22

Saul is Israel’s first flesh and blood king. He wasn’t real sure he wanted the position, was he? They found him hiding in the baggage the day they annointed him. Some of his neighbors weren’t too thrilled with the choice, either. But Saul proved to be a great military leader and the people eventually accepted him as their king.

But as you read today, did you see how quickly Saul allowed his new-found position to give him a sense of entitlement? Saul wanted Samuel to offer up a burnt offering and Samuel was late in arriving. So Saul did it himself.

When Samuel saw what Saul had done, he told the king that the nation would be taken from him, that God had already chosen his successor.

Once again I am remided that it doesn’t matter who you think you are. God’s standards cannot be broken without serious consequences. You can be a lowly slave or the king of Israel and the rules are the same.

Let’s not get so full of ourselves that we assume God will make an exception for us. Saul found out the hard way a lesson we all must learn.

Father, we bow before you today as the One who wrote the rule book. May you find us obedient, knowing that it doesn’t matter who we are. You expect the same of all of us.

April 11

Leave a reply

I Samuel 6:1-7:17, 8:1-9:27

The nation of Israel had it all. They had the God of Creation as their King. God chose them, to set them apart from all the other nations to bless them, to show himself to the world.

But Israel wanted to look like the other nations. Their neighbors had kings, why couldn’t they? Samuel warned them about the awful things that would happen as a result of having a flesh and blood king. They still wanted a king. And that made God sad.

Here’s where I think prayer gets complicated. God wants us to come to him with our desires. Prayer is an important part of the Christian walk. But if our desires are not in line with Scripture, with God’s desires, we need to be careful.

God won’t make us love him or worship him. If we choose to go the way of the world he will let us. But it’ll make him sad if we do.

We Christians have it all. The God of Creation wants to be our King. And as our King he will shower us with blessings beyond what we can ask or think.

My question is… how important is it that I look like non-believers? Do I need to look like the world to feel accepted? If I do, am I prepared to accept the consequences?

Holy God, I bow before you this morning as my King. May I recognize the privilege I have of serving you, being blessed by you, and representing you to the world. Guard my thoughts and the temptation to want to “fit in” with those who are lost. I want no other King.

April 10

Leave a reply

Judges 6:23-31, I Samuel 2:22-5:12

Every once in a while God allows us to see that he has a sense of humor. I think the story of the Philistine god Dagon is funny.

I always loved playing with my sisters’ children and now am enjoying my great-nieces and nephews. How many block towers have I built, then pretended to look away so the little ones can knock them down and I act surprised by it? That’s the picture I have here. God, when everyone is asleep, nudges Dagon with his index finger and the idol tumbles down. The people are surprised by it and put Dagon back up again. But God’s not done with this game. The next night, down Dagon goes!

I know God wanted the Philistines to recognize that the God of Israel is the God of the entire world. We read they didn’t and things got worse for them. Had they accepted the truth of their fallen god and the power of God, we would be reading a different story.

I am reminded that, as the creator, God invented fun. It’s not wrong to laugh or find humor in the day-to-day. I challenge us all today to try and find an example of God’s holy humor. And remember, he wants us to enjoy our journey as we walk with him.

Father, I thank you for laughter. Help us to recognize that you created everything about us, including a sense of humor. But may we honor you in our fun, always remembering that you are holy. 

April 9

Leave a reply

I Samuel 1:1-2:21, Psalm 113, Judges 14:1-16:22

Those of us who grew up going to Sunday School are probably very familiar with these stories. Hannah and Samuel taught us about faith and the power of prayer. Samson taught us about God’s strength. But as an adult I read these same stories and see other things.

I see Hannah’s deep pain from having no children. I see faith in her agonizing prayer. I see Hannah express her love for God and thankfulness to him as she takes her young son to another city to be raised by the priest there. I see her missing Samuel, making robes for him through her tears. And I see her home filled with the laughter of other children, too.

I see a very foolish Samson. Physically strong but morally weak. Has anyone ever had worse taste in women? I see a man so “in love” he is blind to Delilah’s real character. He just sees what he wants to see. I see in Samson’s story the devastating result of seeking revenge.

Isn’t the Bible amazing? God wants little children to know him so he included the accounts of people like Hannah, Samuel, and Samson to tell them about his power, his love and faithfulness, and that he answers prayer. 

But if you look deeper, God reveals more of Himself. What a privilege we have of opening these pages each day, of getting a glimpse into the heart of God.

God, I thank you for your Word again this morning. Thank you that the lives of people like Hannah and Samson are recorded here to show us more about you. May we have faith like Hannah. And may we be examples of your strength like Samson.  May we not be satisfied with just knowing about you, but may we dig deeper and know you personally.

 

April 8

1 Reply

Ruth 3&4, I Chronicles 2:3-16

Aren’t ancient customs funny? Ruth couldn’t tweet Boaz what was on her mind so, while he was sleeping, she uncovered his feet and slept there. A business transaction consisted of taking off your sandal in front of a few people. That was it? No contract to sign? No down payment?

I guess things have changed a bit since then. Except for the fact we still need a kinsman redeemer. And his name is Jesus. From the cross and in front of the world Jesus proclaimed… “I’ll redeem Connie. I’ll take her to myself and care for her.” All I had to do was go to him.

Blessed Redeemer, Jesus is mine!

I know that my Redeemer lives.

Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.

Lots of good old hymns speak about the fact that once I was lost. But Jesus paid whatever it took to make me his own. 

Redeemed! Redeemed! His child and forever I am.

April 7

Leave a reply

Judges 21, I Chronicles 6:4-15, Ruth 1&2

Ruth and Orpah loved their mother-in-law. Both young women had lost their husbands yet continued to stay with Naomi. When Naomi decided to go back to her people, Orpah left and went home to her own. Ruth begged to go with Naomi.

Orpah did nothing wrong. There were no legal or moral ties between the women any more. And it wasn’t that Orpah didn’t love Naomi. It sounds like it hadn’t been an easy decision for her to leave her mother-in-law.

I love how Ruth expressed her love for Naomi, though. Her beautiful words are often quoted at weddings. But beyond her words, Ruth expressed love in action. When they got to Bethlehem Ruth went to work to provide for herself and her mother-in-law. When she was given a good lunch, she thought of Naomi and took her the left-overs.

What I see in Ruth’s story is that love is something you do. It’s a verb. So many people think it’s just a feeling. But feelings change. 

I don’t believe in “love” at first sight. I believe in attraction, in interest at first sight. But those things are not love. I don’t believe in “falling” in love, either. Or the mistaken idea you can’t help who you love. As thinking humans who make choices, love is a choice. I see those other ideas as Satan’s attempts to corrupt God’s provision of marriage between a man and a woman.

Ruth loved Naomi. She demonstrated that by what she did. God loves us. And he demonstrated that by what he did, too. He died for us while we were yet sinners.

Ruth’s and Jesus’ examples of love speak loudly to me today. May I demonstrate the love I have for my family, for my friends, for my Lord, by what I do and say today.

 

April6

Leave a reply

Judges 19&20

It’s hard to read these two chapters. The violence and cruelty are unspeakable. Men lusting after other men, abusing women, and civil war show the nation of Israel is no better than the other nations around them. In fact, they are worse because they know the Truth. They know God. And they live like they don’t.

Beware, dear Christian. Just because we live in the twenty-first century doesn’t mean the rules have changed. It doesn’t mean the God of the Old Testament is different than the God of 2013. Truth is still Truth and holiness means the same today as it did back then.

I’m sad to think the lines between God’s people and the world are becoming so blurred we might not be any better than those who don’t know the Truth. We should be more moral, more kind, more honest, more joyful, more eager to help a neighbor than anyone else. And we should love our neighbors with God’s love.

Can we offer them something better than what they have right now? We should. And if we offer it, would they even recognize the Truth in us?

Father, may your people set themselves apart from the world in our speech and actions. May others see something in us that is better than what they have without you. May we determine today to be holy and stand for the Truth as revealed to us in your Word.