Clothed in Beauty

Clothed in Beauty

by Becky Dietz

What is God’s heart towards you??   Let me tell you...

While Aaron was at the foot of the mountain collecting the people’s gold earrings to make a golden calf—an idol...

God was giving Moses instructions on the top of that same mountain to make holy garments for Aaron so that he could minister to God as a priest.  They were to be handcrafted by skilled artisans who were filled with the spirit of wisdom. The purpose of these garments was for glory and beauty.  

As I thought on this yesterday during our worship time at church, I was overcome.  All I could do was weep. God knows we’ll mess up...sin.  He knows who we are to the depths of our hearts.  But he still clothes us, his priests, with beauty and glory...because He loves us so unconditionally.  

Aaron had no clue what God had planned.  

Waiting in the Place of Inactivity

Waiting in the Place of Inactivity

by Becky Dietz

We’ve all been there.  We’ve needed God to move and we asked...but nothing.  So we waited and waited.  Until we just couldn’t wait any more.  

All of the Israelites had heard God’s laws, made a covenant, and promised to obey everything he said. Moses, Joshua, Aaron and his sons, and 70 other elders went to the mountain to hear God. They didn’t just hear him, they SAW HIM and ATE WITH HIM!!  (Exodus 24). What an amazing privilege.  Miraculous!!

Then God called Moses up higher.  Before Moses left, he told the people that if there were any problems to consult Aaron & Hur.  Aaron had been a leader from the beginning and both men had held up Moses’ arms during the war.  They were the dependable leaders.  And...they’d seen God!

After about 40 days of inactivity, the people decided Moses wasn’t coming back and they told Aaron they needed “gods to go before them.”   And even as God’s presence was still visibly on the mountain, Aaron created a golden calf—a graven image—to lead the people.  They’d already broken covenant with God.  Was God truly inactive with the Israelites?  No.  He was busy giving Moses the blueprints for their future. 

Before we judge Aaron and the Israelites too harshly, we need to examine our own hearts.   What have we done in the waiting place of inactivity?  It’s a hard place to be.  We can’t see what God is doing on that mountain.  We don’t know if he’s busy drawing up blueprints for our lives...or if he’s just being still and doing nothing.  Even if God is just being still, we shouldn’t make a move without him.  And what if he’s busy putting a plan in place?  What if he’s about to take us on a grand adventure?  We don’t want to miss anything!  And we certainly don’t want to be the leader who takes his people into idolatry.   

The Dam of Restraint

The Dam of Restraint 

by Becky Dietz

Andy & I were praying with our friends, Jamie & Jessica, when Jamie began to read II Thessalonians 2:7.  “ For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work in the world, [but it is] restrained only until he who restrains is taken out of the way.”

He began to share what God had revealed to him.  Of course the One who restrains is the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit (Who lives in every believer) is like a dam holding back the lawlessness at work in the world.  As believers, we can come in agreement with the work of the Holy Spirit as we link arms of prayer and speak truth to restrain the work of lawlessness. 

When the One who restrains is taken out of the way, the Antichrist will be revealed.  The dam of restraint will be broken and the waters of lawlessness will flood the earth!

I love this picture of the dam of restraint Jamie gave us.  

A Teachable Spirit

A Teachable Spirit

by Becky Dietz

Don’t you love someone with an open, teachable spirit?   God does, too.  I wonder if that’s what God treasured in David, “who had a heart like God?”  

What is a teachable spirit?   It’s someone who is capable of learning...but it’s more than that.  It’s someone who is willing to listen, to receive instruction, and who is open-minded.  They’re willing and eager to learn from others. They may investigate and consider—but they’re willing to change directions, if needed.  

Maybe it’s easier to catch a vision of this person by seeing the opposite of a teachable spirit.  That person thinks they already know how to do everything.  They won’t listen to instruction.  They may appear to listen, but then do their own thing anyway.  They are unwilling to listen to someone older, younger, of the opposite sex, or to that person who has  different ideologies.  They’re unwilling to change directions.  They’ll follow their own course of action even if it leads to a dead end.  They’re hard-headed, close-minded, and...just unteachable..  

Moses learning from his father-in-law, Jethro, is a great example of a teachable spirit.  Moses was listening to the conflicts of the people all.day.long.  Jethro came to him and said, “This is going to wear you out!   Find capable, wise men and set them over smaller groups to judge the people.  You just listen to the hardest cases!”   Moses immediately changed the course of his direction and acted on what Jethro suggested.  

I believe God is looking to use people with a teachable spirit—like He did Moses and David.  Those people are willing to change direction and follow Him wherever He leads.  They have a heart like God.  

Not Fearing Fear

Not Fearing Fear

by Becky Dietz

Fear is as old as Satan himself.  And it’s probably the tool he uses most.  Fear should be a spiritual stop sign for you.  If you feel fear—STOP!!!   Turn to God and ask for truth. Knowing truth brings freedom—even freedom from fear.  

I was reading Exodus 14 this morning.  It’s the account of Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt to and through the Red Sea. Verse 8 says, “And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the children of Israel; and the children of Israel went out with boldness.”   It was probably their last bold act.  

Verse 10 (two verses later) says, “And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them.  So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord.”   They did the right thing—they cried out to God! 

They’d seen Pharaoh break his promise over and over.  There would be a plague and he’d say he’d let them go—but after the plague stopped, he’d change his mind.  He’d finally let them go and they thought all was well.  But he and his entire army were hot on their heels!   FEAR!!!   And they turned and blamed Moses.  

But God had a plan the whole time.  He knew the Israelites would constantly be looking over their shoulders unless he put an end to this source of fear.  They crossed the Red Sea on miraculous dry ground and when the Egyptian army followed them, their chariot wheels started falling off and the sea swallowed them up.  Verse 30 says, “...Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.”   God knew they’d need proof their enemy was dead.  

It’s been so easy to read this through the years and say, “They’d seen God deliver them over and over through the plagues.  They saw God’s power!!   So why did they fear?”  But now we know, don’t we?  We’ve all seen God’s power in our lives.  But when Satan moves in with fear, that’s all we can see!  We fear a plague called Coronavirus.  We fear racial riots and what it’s doing to our country.  Satan won’t stop there.  He’ll bring more things our way to cause more fear.  But God has not given us a spirit of fear—but of love, power, and a sound mind. The spirit of fear (and notice it’s a spirit!) isn’t from God.  I love what Moses told the Israelites:

“ And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”

NO FEAR!!  Watch God fight for you and hold your peace.  HANG ON TO PEACE!  Don’t let Satan convince you that fear is the correct response.  Turn to God and keep your peace.  

Change Your Children’s Mindsets, Mama!

Change Your Children’s Mindsets, Mama!

by Becky Dietz

I was reading about God’s instructions to Moses yesterday in Exodus 3–to go and deliver Israel from slavery to the Egyptians.  Verse 22 stood out to me.  “But every woman shall ask of her neighbor, namely, of her who dwells near her house, articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing; and you shall put on your sons and daughters.  So you shall plunder the Egyptians.”

Women.  Women were to ask other women for treasures.   And they were to clothe their sons and daughters with these riches!   Now remember, the Israelites were slaves.  When you’re a slave, you have the mindset of a slave—you do what you’re told.  You would also have a poverty mindset.  You’d feel helpless, used, and abused. 

But God knew how to change all of that. He has transformative power.  And he empowered these mamas.  “Go and get treasures and put them on your sons and daughters.” This is a picture of more than outward treasures.  I imagine these mamas began to tell their children who they really were—sons and daughters of Abraham, Jacob & Isaac.  These children began to see their value and worth. 

God has empowered us in the same way.  Tell your children who they really are.  They are made in the image of God Almighty!   They’ve been created to be the temple—the dwelling place—of God Himself.  God knew them before they were born and designed every part of their being—intricately.  Fill their minds with treasures!

After all...these are the very children who did—and will—enter the Promised Land.  God knows how to prepare them.