“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” – Deuteronomy 31:6

Alexander Men was a Soviet Russian Orthodox priest, dissident, and theologian during the waning years of the Soviet Union. He became a leader with considerable influence and a good reputation among Christians both locally and abroad, among Roman Catholics and Protestants, as well as Orthodox. He served in a series of parishes near Moscow.

Starting in the early 1970s, Alexander became a popular figure in Russia's religious community, especially among the intelligentsia. The KGB harassed him for his active missionary and evangelistic efforts. In the late 1980s, he utilized the mass media to spread the message of Christ (he was offered to host a nationally televised program on religion); his days and nights were full of teaching and lecturing in packed lecture halls.

Alexander was one of the founders of the Russian Bible Society in 1990; that same year he founded the Open Orthodox University and "The World of the Bible" journal. On Christianity he said: “If you want to find something real in Christianity, then search for it only through the risen Christ . . . the Resurrection means victory.”

On Sunday morning, 9 September 1990, he was murdered while walking along the wooded path from his home in the Russian village of Semkhoz (near Moscow) to the local train platform.

No matter what situation you find yourself in, be strong in the Lord. Today in prayer, praise Jesus Christ that when our faith is tested, we can be strong in Him.

“Courage is not measured by the fear you never feel, but by the fear you manage to overcome.” – John Eddison

God’s Word: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2022, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, AND DEUTERONOMY  †

“This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live” – Deuteronomy 30:19

Karen Neumair is a Literary Agent, a wife, and a mother. She is a Christian and she has battled depression for many years.

She wrote: “The temptation to kill myself felt like too much to bear. And so I had two options, to give in to that temptation and commit an irreversible (but not unforgivable) sin, or believe God’s promise to me in His Word:

“God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Cor. 10:13).

And so, on December 22, 2011, I was admitted to Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services for five days. In the hospital, I rested. I began to treat my body, mind, and soul.”

Today Karen helps others in their battle to choose life.

Every day we are confronted with choices. The most important choice you have is who is Jesus Christ? Today in prayer, thank the Lord for His sacrifice and choose life and follow Him in all that you do.

“Nature gives man corn but he must grind it. God gives man a will but he must make the right choices.” – Fulton J. Sheen

God’s Word: “But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” – Joshua 24:15

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DEVOTIONS IN EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, AND DEUTERONOMY  †

“The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.” – Deuteronomy 29:29

At lunch, one day, W. Wilbert Welch, chancellor of the Grand Rapids Baptist College and Seminary, told a story about one of his professors, Dr. Charles Brokenshire, a godly and gifted scholar with a thorough knowledge of Scripture.

Now Dr. Brokenshire had degrees from Princeton University and the University of Chicago.  He spoke and read more than 35 languages.

Dr. Welch recalled…

“I remember our first day in class. Dr. Brokenshire didn't know us by name yet, so he referred to some cards in his hand. Looking up, he said, ‘Mr. Green?’ The student identified himself. ‘Mr. Green, do you have any problems with the Bible?’

‘No, sir,’ replied the confident new student.

Dr. Brokenshire replied, ‘Then why don't you read it? You will.’”

The Bible isn’t always easy to understand, but thanks be to God that which we can understand describes our loving God. Today in prayer, give thanks to Jesus for being the Word of God made flesh.

“No matter what problems we have in understanding the Bible, we can thank Him that He has revealed sufficient truth to win our hearts, guide our steps, and bring us to heaven.” —D. J. De Haan

God’s Word: “The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.” – Psalm 25:14

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DEVOTIONS IN EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, AND DEUTERONOMY †

“They shall say to the elders, ‘This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey us. He is a profligate and a drunkard.’ Then all the men of his town shall stone him to death. You must purge the evil from among you. All Israel will hear of it and be afraid.” – Deuteronomy 21:20-21

Farouk I, the last king of Egypt, came to the throne as a sixteen-year-old in 1936 and was deposed in a coup led by Gamal Nasser in 1952.

At first, the teenage king enjoyed his great popularity. But Farouk soon began to shirk his duties. He lived a life of luxury and gluttonous indulgence.

In 1950, he went to France for a two-month-long bachelor party. Farouk's biographer, William Stadiem, wrote about how the king "...went on the most excessively lavish, self-indulgent bachelor party in the annals of sybaritism”.

The effects of the king’s reckless lifestyle were captured in side-by-side photos published after his exile. The first showed an elegantly slender young king walking beside a swimming pool. The second photo, also taken as Farouk strode beside a pool, showed a man so enormous he was scarcely recognizable.

The Lord warns us to refrain from reckless living. Today in prayer, give consideration to how you are living your life and give your life fully to Jesus.

“Do you think it is a vain hope that one day man will find joy in noble deeds of light and mercy, rather than in the coarse pleasures he indulges in today -- gluttony, fornication, ostentation, boasting, and envious vying with his neighbor? I am certain this is not a vain hope and that the day will come soon.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky

God’s Word: “Hear, my son, and be wise, and direct your heart in the way. Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat, for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags.” – Proverbs 23:19-21

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DEVOTIONS IN EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, AND DEUTERONOMY †

“Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the LORD your God has blessed you.” – Deuteronomy 16:17

In June 2017, Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr signed a contract extension making him the highest-paid player in NFL history. He quickly identified one of his top priorities -- tithing.

“The first thing I'll do is I'll pay my tithe like I have since I was in college getting $700 on a scholarship check,” Derek said at a press conference following the signing. “That won't change.”

Derek and the Raiders agreed to a five-year, $125 million extension that will keep him in silver and black through 2022.

“First and foremost, I'm just blessed and honored to be sitting here today,” Derek said in his opening comments at the press conference. “I dreamed of this day when I was a little kid, and it's here. I just thank God for this opportunity.”

An outspoken Christian, Derek said he was excited about the contract because he wanted to continue playing for the Raiders, and because of how he and his wife Heather would use the money.

“This money's going to help a lot of people,” he said. “I'm very thankful to have it, that it's in our hands because it's going to help people not only in this country but in a lot of countries around the world. That's what's exciting to me.”

We need to be faithful in giving to the Lord’s work. Today in prayer, praise the Lord for all that He has given you and seek to be a cheerful giver to His work.

“God loves a cheerful giver. He who gives cheerfully gives better. The best way to show our gratitude to God and to our neighbors is to accept their gifts with joy.  Joy is a net of love in which souls can be caught. We impatiently await God's paradise, but we have in our hands the power to be in paradise right here and now.  Being happy with God means this:  to love as He loves, to help as He helps, to give as He gives, to serve as He serves.” – Mother Teresa

God’s Word: “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” – 2 Corinthians 9:6-7

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DEVOTIONS IN EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, AND DEUTERONOMY †

“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” – Deuteronomy 6:5

In 1984, Leonard Knight, a fifty-something free spirit and believer in Jesus, arrived at Niland, California. He was looking for a place to launch his "God is Love" hot air balloon. When it failed to float, he decided to stick around for a few days to cement a Biblical message onto the side of an eroded mesa. Days turned into weeks, then months. Leonard christened the hill Salvation Mountain as it grew in scale and became part of the landscape -- as did Leonard. Convinced that he'd finally found his purpose in life, he rarely strayed far from the five-acre property for the next 27 years. He used more than half a million gallons of paint to produce an artwork that reflected his faith in Christ.

“If people will just love God, all will be well,” he said. “Keep it simple, keep it simple, don't get all complicated in other things. We've just got to start loving God more, and these things like wars wouldn't happen. God's love is the strongest force. It can squash hate.”

We are called to love the Lord with all of our hearts, our souls, and our strength. Today in prayer, praise the Lord and love Him with all of your heart.

“We are called to an everlasting preoccupation with God.” – A.W. Tozer

God’s Word: “Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’” – Matthew 22:37

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DEVOTIONS IN EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, AND DEUTERONOMY †

“Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.” – Deuteronomy 4:9

We’ve all been there — you’re in a quiet meeting or class and suddenly your stomach begins to growl. You regret skipping breakfast all you, but it’s not going to quiet things down. But now, thanks to the Japanese stationery company Eins Corp, you can eat your notes. Just make sure they’re not important!

Kamihime paper is a series of edible note pads made from wafer paper (starch powder, olive oil, and water) that you can write on using an edible ink pen (water, citric acid, and coloring). And when those hunger pains set in, just chew over your notes.

Kamihime currently comes in 4 scents: vanilla, strawberry, orange, and curry. Each note pad comes with 20 sheets of paper and a pen and retails for 2000 yen (about $18 USD).

In a similar manner, we need to digest God’s Word so that it is part of us.

The Lord desires us to remember His words and to live them out in our lives. Today in prayer, thank the Lord for His Word and seek to remember and apply all of His Word.

“The tumult and the shouting dies, The captains and the kings depart; Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice, A humble and a contrite heart. Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet Lest we forget, --lest we forget.” – Rudyard Kipling

God’s Word: “Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.” – Psalm 78:7

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DEVOTIONS IN EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, AND DEUTERONOMY †

“Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them.” – Numbers 14:9

On the night of July 2, 1776, as the delegates were casting their first votes, word reached Philadelphia that a hundred British warships and troop transports had been sighted off New York.

The British Empire was striking back.  The colonists had driven British forces from Boston in March, but now a vast armada, some 400 ships, packed with regiments of crack British redcoats and highly trained Hessian mercenaries--was arriving from the motherland to crush the upstart rebellion.  By August there were more British soldiers in New York (32,000) than there were people (30,000) in Philadelphia, the largest Colonial city, a couple of days' march away.  Between them stood George Washington's Army of some 7,000 men, mostly untested, ill-equipped farmers.

By affixing their signatures to the Declaration of Independence, the Founders were acutely aware that they were committing treason, the penalty for which was death.  “We must all hang together, or most assuredly, we will hang separately,” darkly joked Benjamin Franklin.

No one doubted the gravity of his actions.  As he signed the document, Stephen Hopkins of Rhode Island, who suffered from palsy, exclaimed, “My hand trembles, but my heart does not.”

The Lord asks us to trust in Him and not to be afraid. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that when we put our trust in Christ, we do not have to be afraid of anything.

“Jesus came treading the waves, and so he puts all the swelling tumults of life under his feet. Christians – why afraid?” – Augustine

God’s Word: “say to those with fearful hearts, ‘Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution, he will come to save you.’” – Isaiah 35:4

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DEVOTIONS IN EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, AND DEUTERONOMY †

“I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take of the Spirit that is on you and put the Spirit on them. They will help you carry the burden of the people so that you will not have to carry it alone.” – Numbers 11:17

In February 2022, the mummified body of a 70-year-old woman thought to have been dead for more than two years was found in Italy, sparking national calls to do more to deal with loneliness among the elderly. Marinella Beretta was discovered by police and firefighters sitting at a table in her home in Prestino, near Lake Como, reportedly after her neighbors raised the alarm about unsafe trees on her property during high winds. She is believed to have had no living relatives, and neighbors were convinced she had moved at the start of the pandemic, having not seen her since September 2019, according to Italian media.

“We must become her family and participate as far as possible in the funeral,” local mayor Mario Landriscina was quoted as saying by the Corriere della Sera newspaper, which carried Ms. Beretta’s story on its front page. The newspaper - Italy’s most widely-read daily - described her as “loneliness personified”, while lamenting the “reduced” modern family structure in which people not only die alone but live alone, “which is almost worse”.

The Lord never designed us to live life alone. We need the fellowship of the Lord and the love and comfort of friends and family. Today in prayer, thank the Lord that He is closer than a friend, and seek to draw closer to family members or friends you haven’t talked to recently.

“The soul hardly ever realizes it, but whether [we are] a believer or not, [our] loneliness is really a homesickness for God.” – Hubert Van Zeller

God’s Word: “Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.” – Psalm 25:16

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DEVOTIONS IN EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, AND DEUTERONOMY  †

“and must confess the sin he has committed. He must make full restitution for his wrong, add one fifth to it and give it all to the person he has wronged.” – Numbers 5:7

In the May 8, 1989 issue of Time Magazine, an article entitled "The Price of Penance" discussed reparations and restitution. Here is a portion of that article: “It is a peculiarly American idea that the social injustices of the past can be mollified with cash and property payments. In 1980 the U.S. Supreme Court ordered the Federal Government to pay some $122 million to eight tribes of Sioux Indians to make up for the illegal seizure of their tribal lands in 1877. Two years ago (1987), Japanese Americans forced into internment camps during World War II were awarded checks for $20,000. Now some African Americans want cash compensation for the slavery their ancestors endured. "We call for reparations," declared a resolution passed at the African-American summit in New Orleans last week. "If they are good enough for the Japanese Americans and Native Americans, they are good enough for those of us who worked for hundreds of years unpaid." The reparations idea is not a new one, but it has gathered some momentum since the Detroit city council last month asked Congress to establish a $40 billion education fund for the descendants of slaves. While the idea has a surface plausibility, its proponents might have overlooked important historical distinctions. Recent payments to Native Americans are the result of acknowledged violations of U.S. law, and Japanese Americans who received compensation for their internment were the victims themselves, not their descendants.”

Confession and restitution are acts that help restore a broken relationship. Today in prayer, thank the Lord that He gave Himself as restitution for sin and if you have hurt another person, seek to confess the wrong and give restitution to them. 

“Many people today think that repentance means shedding a few tears and then going merrily on their way. It is much more than that. It is making things right by making restitution to the individual that has been injured.” – J. Vernon McGee

God’s Word: “or whatever it was he swore falsely about. He must make restitution in full, add a fifth of the value to it and give it all to the owner on the day he presents his guilt offering.” – Leviticus 6:5

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2022, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, AND DEUTERONOMY  †

“Follow my decrees and be careful to obey my laws, and you will live safely in the land.” - Leviticus 25:18

In 2019, Deputy Sheriff Felipe Perez of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department was the lucky recipient of the fourth-fastest speeding ticket issued by the Nevada Highway Patrol in all of 2019. His wife and child were both in the car at the time, and the car happened to not have any license plates.

Nevada State Trooper Ken Nickerson cited the off-duty deputy for the full 134 MPH and for the missing plates on his black Dodge Charger.

Perez said he did not realize he was going that fast and apologized saying he was in a hurry to get to Las Vegas. He then realized that his speeding citation would ruin his career. Officer Nickerson replied: “you made that decision, not me.”

The Lord gives us laws so that we may live safely and draw closer to Him. Today in prayer, praise the Lord for His decrees and laws and seek to follow Him in all that you do.

“The law is the light and the commandment the lantern.” – William Austin

God’s Word: “Your statutes are wonderful; therefore I obey them.” – Psalm 119:129

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DEVOTIONS IN EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, AND DEUTERONOMY †

“Do not use dishonest standards when measuring length, weight or quantity.” – Leviticus 19:35

Years ago, a lonely Wyoming sheepherder wrote to the conductor of the New York Philharmonic Symphony. "Dear Mr. Toscanini, "the sheepherder wrote. "Each Sunday night I enjoy listening to you conducting the orchestra in New York City. It's lonely out here.  My only comfort is my battery radio and my old fiddle. Winter is coming and then I won't be able to get into town.  My batteries will be dead by spring. "This means that soon my only comfort will be my fiddle.

However, it desperately needs a tuning.  Would you be so kind as to sound the note 'A' next Sunday night so I can be sure my fiddle is up to standard pitch?" Toscanini's announcer read this letter over the radio the following Sunday, and said: "Now, ladies and gentlemen, for the man in Wyoming, here is the note of 'A'". The pianist sounded the

note and listeners visualized what was happening over 2,000 miles away-a lonely man busily tuning four strings to match the pitch being sounded in New York City.

Dishonest measures are a crime and a sin. Today in prayer, thank the Lord that He honors us when we use honest measures and deal honestly with others.

“The best measure of a man's honesty isn't his income tax return. It's the zero adjust on his bathroom scale.” – Arthur C. Clarke

God’s Word: “Do not have two differing weights in your bag--one heavy, one light. Do not have two differing measures in your house--one large, one small. You must have accurate and honest weights and measures, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you. For the LORD your God detests anyone who does these things, anyone who deals dishonestly.” – Deuteronomy 25:13-16

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DEVOTIONS IN EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, AND DEUTERONOMY  †

“‘Do not steal.’ ‘Do not lie.’ ‘Do not deceive one another.’” – Leviticus 19:11

Ken Dilanian was a reporter in the Los Angeles Times’ Washington, D.C., bureau from April 2010 until May 2014. Before that, he had spent three years at USA Today, where he covered foreign policy and Congress. He worked for a decade at the Philadelphia Inquirer, three of them as a Rome-based foreign correspondent making frequent trips to Iraq. A series he co-wrote on deaths in Philadelphia’s child welfare system won the 2007 Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism.

But in 2014, Ken was caught lying about being an objective journalist when he was in fact working for the CIA and editing his stories based on their desires. In one of the many cases that led to his firing from The Los Angeles Times, he insisted only a single terrorist was killed in an American drone attack when others confirmed that up to 20 likely purely innocent rescuers, were killed in that attack.

Lying and deception go hand-in-hand with other sins. Today in prayer, confess any sin of lying and seek to be open and honest in your relationships.

“No man was ever so much deceived by another as by himself.” – Fulke Greville

God’s Word: “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.” – Ephesians 4:25

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DEVOTIONS IN EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, AND DEUTERONOMY  †

“Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, "Do not let your hair become unkempt and do not tear your clothes, or you will die and the LORD will be angry with the whole community. But your relatives, all the house of Israel, may mourn for those the LORD has destroyed by fire. Do not leave the entrance to the Tent of Meeting or you will die because the LORD's anointing oil is on you." So they did as Moses said.” – Leviticus 10:6-7

In 1956, Jim Elliott was an American Christian missionary and one of five people killed during Operation Auca, an attempt to evangelize the Huaorani people of Ecuador. Jim’s death stirred many young Christians to become missionaries. Jim’s older brother Bert, who went on to serve as a missionary to Peru for more than 60 years with his wife Colleen, said: “Jim and I both served Christ, but differently. Jim was a great meteor, streaking through the sky.”

Pastor Randy Alcorn said the following about Bert: “Unlike his brother Jim, the shooting star, Bert was a faint star that rose night after night, faithfully crossing the same path in the sky, to God’s glory.

In missions work, suffering sometimes results in a short life culminating in martyrdom, sometimes in a long life of daily dying to self and living for Christ. I believe Jim Elliot’s reward is considerable, but it wouldn’t surprise me to discover that Bert and Colleen’s will be greater still.”

The Lord desires us to be faithful and He will bring success. Today in prayer, thank the Lord that when we are faithful to Him, He will bring success.

“Too many Christians have a commitment of convenience. They'll stay faithful as long as it's safe and doesn't involve risk, rejection, or criticism. Instead of standing alone in the face of challenge or temptation, they check to see which way their friends are going.” - Charles Stanley

God’s Word: “I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”– Luke 18:8

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DEVOTIONS IN EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, AND DEUTERONOMY  †

“These are the regulations for the guilt offering, which is most holy” – Leviticus 7:1

In December 2020, a Texas man paid off his boss's 48-year-old Corte Madera Library overdue book fine as a holiday gift. It was in 1972, a young boy named Tony Goodman borrowed a book about pirates from the Marin County Free Library. But, he never returned it and has been living with the guilt of his misstep for nearly half a century. That is until recently when a Good Samaritan named Kenny Newell paid $58 to clear Goodman's name. Newell worked for Goodman as an employee of Goodman, CEO of PeopleFun, a mobile game development company in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and wanted to do something fun for him for Christmas.

“Obviously, it was almost 50 years ago and (the book) has been lost to time, but I was wanting to pay the late fee or replacement cost for the book as a joke and giving him a confirmation receipt for Christmas,” Newell said in a message to the library. Marin County Free Library Director Sara Jones said that she would like to see the good deed go viral so it inspires other people to match Newell's gesture. “In a way, we hope hundreds of people find overdue books, become overcome with guilt, and get inspired to make peace with their local libraries,” Jones said.

Guilt is the realization of sin. But thanks be to Christ that He loves us and forgives us when we confess our sin and desire reconciled to Him. Today in prayer, praise Christ that He has paid the price for all of our sins and removed our guilt and shame.   

“Guilt is the very nerve of sorrow.” – Horace Bushnell

God’s Word: “let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” – Hebrews 10:22

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DEVOTIONS IN EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, AND DEUTERONOMY  †

“The Lord replied, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’” – Exodus 33:14

In his book “Soul Keeping: Caring For the Most Important Part of You”, Christian author John Ortberg gives commentary on the phrase “He makes me lie down in green pastures” found in Psalm 23 verse 2 and our need for rest:

“‘He makes me lie down.’ He doesn’t invite us to lie down. He doesn’t plead with us to lie down. He makes us. When it comes to the rest we need to restore our souls, we’re like our own little children at bedtime. Kids just don’t want to go to bed, no matter how tired they are. So at some point as good parents, we pick them up, carry them into their bedrooms, and make them go to bed. Is it bedtime for your soul?”

The Lord desires to give us rest. Today in prayer, rest in Jesus, knowing He will be with you and provide for you throughout all eternity.

“Rest time is not waste time. It is economy to gather fresh strength. It is wisdom to take occasional furlough. In the long run, we shall do more by sometimes doing less.” – Charles H. Spurgeon

God’s Word: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28

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DEVOTIONS IN EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, AND DEUTERONOMY  †

“Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the righteous.” – Exodus 23:8

In March 2022, a jury found former Atlanta city official Pastor Mitzi Bickers guilty on multiple counts in the Atlanta City Hall corruption case. 

The jury found Bickers guilty on 9 of the 12 charges against her. She was acquitted on 3 charges.

"When you follow the money trail, in this case, it cuts through the lies and the manipulation," Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan Kitchens said. "It all leads to one clear path, that the defendant Mitzi Bickers is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt."

Bickers lied in her financial disclosure forms for the city and on her federal tax returns to hide the bribes, prosecutors said. She also instructed former city contractor Elvin "E.R." Mitchell to lie to the FBI in 2015 to hide her involvement, Kitchens said.

Bickers used the money from bribes to support a lavish lifestyle, including buying a lakefront home, a luxury SUV, jet skis, and taking expensive trips, prosecutors said.

Bribery is a sin that wounds our witness to others. Today in prayer, ask the Lord to keep the temptation of bribery far from you.

“Though the bribe be small, yet the fault is great.” – Lord Edward Coke

God’s Word: “For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.” – Deuteronomy 10:17

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DEVOTIONS IN EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, AND DEUTERONOMY  †

“You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.” – Exodus 20:7

In R.C. Sproul's book “The Holiness of God” he writes: “A few years ago time magazine reported an incident that took place in the state of Maryland. A truck driver was arrested for drunk and disorderly conduct. When the police officers arrived on the scene to arrest the man, he became abusive. He used filthy language in a boisterous manner, calling the officers every name he could think of. Police were infuriated by the severe verbal abuse. When the man was brought before the judge, he was still being abusive. The maximum penalty the magistrate could impose for drunk and disorderly conduct was a $100 fine in 30 days in jail. The magistrate became so angry that he wanted to “throw the book” at him, he found an antiquated law still on the books in Maryland; it was in disuse but had never been repealed. The statute prohibited public blasphemy. Since the man had publicly profaned and blasphemed the name of God as part of his verbal abuse he hurled at the police, the magistrate tacked on another $100 fine and added 30 days in jail.”

We need to love the Lord and say His name with respect, not to take the Lord’s name in vain. Today in prayer, thank Christ that His name is Wonderful and we have the privilege to call Jesus Christ our Lord and friend.

“The foolish and wicked practice of profane cursing and swearing is a vice so mean and low that every person of sense and character detests and despises it.” – George Washington

God’s Word: “Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.” – Leviticus 19:12

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DEVOTIONS IN EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, AND DEUTERONOMY  †

“Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh and say to him, 'This is what the LORD says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me.’” – Exodus 8:1

After a house church in China’s coastal province held a baptism in the ocean during the Easter weekend, the members were raided by local police and asked to submit personal information.

According to China Aid, on April 15, Pastor Mao Zhibin from Shenzhen Trinity Gospel Harvest church and six members awaiting to be baptized drove two hours to a nearby coastal city for the Easter baptism. Given their experience last September, where a five-year anniversary celebration at the beach was disrupted and members harassed, this time, they carefully planned and the baptism went smoothly.

However, after a person carelessly uploaded the photos and videos of the April 16 baptism to social media, about 30 minutes after they began lunch, Pastor Mao received a phone call in the name of pandemic measures requesting to confirm his identity and origin.

A few minutes later, a police car showed up at the restaurant. A local official along with several police officers came out from the car, asking the group to provide their IDs, health code (to prove that they are COVID-free), and allow the police to scan their faces.

To Pastor Mao’s surprise, the police officers already had the baptism videos on their cell phones. Although they were polite and waited until the group finished lunch to execute their duties, the pastor was shocked to see several photos of him show up after the police scanned his face. The artificial intelligence employed by the Chinese government is potent and scary.

“The technology used by the government surpasses traditional authoritarian reign and should be called super authoritarianism! However, I also believe that God is and must still reign over all. We just need to trust in him, walk humbly with God,” said Pastor Mao, whose major was information management engineering in college.

Pastor Mao and his church have been targeted by the government for their vocal support for religious freedom.  

Freedom to worship the Lord does not exist in many areas of the world. Today in prayer, pray for those who face persecution for desiring to worship Jesus.

“No peace without justice, no justice without forgiveness. To pray for peace is to pray for justice, for a right-ordering of relations within and among nations and peoples. It is to pray for freedom, especially for the religious freedom that is a basic human and civil right of every individual. To pray for peace is to seek God's forgiveness, and to implore the courage to forgive those who have trespassed against us.” – John Paul II

God’s Word: “Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Go to Pharaoh and say to him, 'This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘Let my people go, so that they may worship me.’’” – Exodus 9:1

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2022, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, AND DEUTERONOMY †

“The LORD said to him, ‘Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.’” – Exodus 4:11-12

Anne Lamott is an American novelist and non-fiction writer. She is also a progressive political activist, public speaker, and writing teacher. Lamott is based in Marin County, California. Her nonfiction works are largely autobiographical. Lamott's writings, marked by their self-deprecating humor and openness, cover such subjects as alcoholism, single motherhood, depression, and Christianity.

Lamott has described why she writes: “I try to write the books I would love to come upon, that are honest, concerned with real lives, human hearts, spiritual transformation, families, secrets, wonder, craziness—and that can make me laugh. When I am reading a book like this, I feel rich and profoundly relieved to be in the presence of someone who will share the truth with me, and throw the lights on a little, and I try to write these kinds of books. Books, for me, are medicine.”

Anne says she has two favorite prayers: “Thanks, thanks, thanks!” and “Help! Help!

Help!”

With God’s call to do His will, He will also provide the resources. Today in prayer, give thanks to the Lord that He helps us when we yield our will to Him.

“When we can't piece together the puzzle of our own lives, remember the best view of a puzzle is from above.  Let Him help put you together.” – Terri Guillemets

God’s Word: “In my distress, I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.” – Psalm 18:6

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2022, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, AND DEUTERONOMY †