Week 17 April 27, 2008

                                                  

This weeks’ passages:  I Samuel 25-30; II Samuel 1-5; selections from I Chronicles; Psalm 2, 14, 18, 31, 40, 53, 56, 69, 78, 86, 131.

Each week, I ask the Lord to speak to me in reading His Word and particularly while reading cover to cover, selfishly so that I can have something to write for my weekly recap.  But the odds are always good because to depend on Him is a sure bet rather than trying to come up with something myself.  Once again, I was drawn to one part of this week’s readings.  Maybe God is being gracious to all of us…so that I don’t have to type out all of what I “get” from my weekly readings and no one has to push the page down key too often…let’s hope that is the case today.

It has been about 4 days since I read I Samuel 30…it has just not left my spirit and mind…I have read it in the NKJV, NIV, NASB, Amplified and the Message…it fills me with so much hope and courage.  I love God’s Word…more and more with each day and with each passage I read…I never want to take it out of context…so please know that this is what I felt it saying to me…I welcome your thoughts…especially if you think I am off base…again…I welcome your input!

Here’s my recap of I Samuel 30:

David and his men reach Ziklag and find the unbearable sight of a city burned to the ground and all the women and child are gone (including David’s two wives)…they have not been killed but they have been taken captive by the Amalekites.

What in your life has been taken captive?  Are you standing amongst the burnt ruins? 

David and the men are overcome with emotion…they wept aloud until they had no strength to weep. 

Do you need to cry out to God about the ruins in your life…until there are no more tears?

The outpouring of emotion can affect people in different ways.  For David’s men…it made them bitter and angry…they wanted to stone David.  David’s emotions were equal yet the Word says that David found strength in the Lord his God.

How has hardship and trials shaped you…has it been forged in bitterness or in dependence in the Lord?

David inquired of the Lord regarding if he was to pursue these raiders…God said yes…that this was a pursuit that would meet with success.  David assembled 600 men but 200 men were too exhausted to make the trek…so they stayed behind with the supplies.

Injustice can cause us to act impulsively and foolishly.  Ask the Lord what to do in these situations…then form your army…and go! 

Along their way, they encountered an Egyptian slave that had been abandoned to his death by his Amalekite master.  They feed him and ask him to assist them.  He led them to the Amalekites that were in the midst of partying because of the huge plunder they had captured.

Help can come in unexpected places…keep an open mind and heart.  God can and will use anyone to achieve His plans and assure His victories.  Our enemies may often celebrate prematurely…don’t forget who God says will get the victory.

David and his men fight from dusk until evening of the next day and none of the Amalekites got away except for 400 men that fled on camels.  The Word says:

“David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives.  Nothing was missing:  young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else they had taken.  David brought back everything.” (30:19, 20)

I don’t know about you but that fills me with such hope…the words “everything” and “nothing was missing“…David and his men got it all back.

David, the men, the women and children and all their stuff head back to the place where those who have waited with the supplies.  I am sure their was great rejoicing despite fatigue along the way.  Those that were too tired to fight come out to meet the victors.  David greets them but the other men get an attitude…they don’t want to share the plunder with those that have stayed behind…take your wives and children but don’t touch the goodies…you didn’t fight for it.  But David basically says…NO WAY…those that have fought and those who have not each will share alike in the plunder.  David believed this so strongly that he made it a statute and ordinance.

Here’s my take home message…the reason why I have kept reading different translations to see if it still says the same thing…the same thing to me who doesn’t live in David’s time…

I can look over my life especially in the last several years…there is carnage…there are places…even dreams that have felt as if they have been burnt to the ground…smoldering ashes at my feet.  I have been both types in this story…I have felt bitterness and wanted to blame someone…something…anything…but I have also learned to talk to the Lord…read His Word…get His take on my life.  I have mustered the courage to ask Him if this fight is still worth pursuing…and He has said Yes…one day…the victory is going to come…one day…one day it will all be redeemed…because I can and will give you beauty for ashes…

There have been days that I have waged war with a lot of strength…there have also been days were I have been exhausted…days where I stay behind with the supplies…I pray…I go to the One who supplies all my needs…I ask for the Holy Spirit…for He is the One who can intercede for me and make sense of my groans…I can fight for others as well when they are defeated and deflated…and they can pray or fight for me when I am in that place.  It  all constitutes fighting…and it is fighting in a battle where one day we all get to share in the plunder.

One day we will recover everything…nothing will be missing…Christ will bring it all back!

We will greet each other…those who have fought…those who have prayed,stayed and remained and we will gather around our King, Our Glorious Redeemer, as He proclaims the victory and invites us to share in His inheritance…

Oh what a Day that will be!

Isn’t God’s Word amazing…join others here who are reading the Bible cover to cover this year.

Have a blessed week…let this example in the life of David resonate into your own as you day by day fight the good fight of faith!

Helen

***If you have a moment, will you respond to my devotional survey below…I would appreciate your input!

 

Devotional Survey… April 24, 2008

 

 

Hello all,

I have a favor to ask…

Would you tell me about your use of devotionals? 

• Do you use a devotional?
• What devotional(s) do you use?
• What’s your favorite devotional?
• Why do you like your current devotional?
• If you were looking for a devotional, what aspects would be important?
• What devotional would you not hesitate to give as a gift?
• Is there something that you haven’t been able to find in the devotionals you have shopped for?

Please leave me any and all comments you have on this subject…I would really appreciate any input!

Oh…and congratulate me…this is possibly my shortest post in ages!

Peace to you,

Helen

 

 

Follow Me… April 22, 2008

I spent some time this past week reading John 21…such a tender chapter…

The disciples spend a long night fishing and catch nada…but the next morning…there’s Jesus on the shore calling them His friends and gives them a fishing lesson…a great one as they catch so many they can’t even haul the net in because the fish are so numerous.  Can you remember a time where your labors had been in vain…and there is your Savior…on the shore…waiting for you…giving words of encouragement…words of instruction…words of life…you receive fullness…abundance from His hand.

As they get closer to the shore, they realize that it is the Lord…Peter jumps into the water to greet the Messiah…the rest row the boat carrying the catch of a lifetime.  Once they all arrive, they see a roaring fire that Jesus has built and he cooks them breakfast, using some of their fish. 

Can you imagine?  An endless night on the water…working…and the disciples have nothing to show for their labors…they are cold, tired and sore…then Jesus enters the scene…behold the Provider…the Comforter…the Redeemer…tending to their physical needs…cooking breakfast…can’t you just smell it…there’s nothing better than food cooked over an open fire…even to me, a non-outdoorsy type.

If you are weary and feel that your best efforts have become null and void…know that Jesus is here…ready to enter the scene of your life…eager to warm you, feed you and provide for you…let Him meet you in whatever boat you find yourself sitting in…whatever shore you place your feet upon…He is waiting…row…wade…run to Him…do whatever it takes…even some water aerobics will do.

After breakfast, Jesus takes time to meet with Peter…as he had denied Christ three times…Jesus now allows him to confess Christ in triplicate. Three times, Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him…three times Peter tells him that he does…three times Jesus tells Peter to feed His sheep. 

Confession is hard…it’s difficult enough to confess once…but to be asked more than once…that is challenging.  Christ gently and tenderly led Peter down the difficult road of acknowledging where he had been and where he was to go. I am so prone to want to run and hide…to admit/confess and then want to move along.

After the third time of telling Peter to feed His sheep…Jesus imparts a glimpse into this impulsive disciple’s future.  Commentaries say that Peter was crucified for his faith but upside down because he did not feel worthy to die as his beloved Lord had died. 

What would I do if Jesus told me a bit of my future…especially if it was not a pleasant one?  I think I might be prone to do what Peter did…he turned and looked.  He saw John and he asked Jesus a question I am sure all of us have thought or uttered countless times,

“Lord, what about him?” (21: 21)

As I found in discussions of this passage, there are at least two schools of thought…Peter was close to John and was inquiring if John would have this same journey OR there was some tension between them and Peter perhaps wondered whether John would somehow escape this future due to his close relationship with Jesus.  Regardless of Peter’s motives for his question, Jesus’ response is key:

“If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?  You must follow me.” (21: 22)

When life is smooth sailing…the cupboards are full, the kids are getting along, the car is running well, the weather is pleasant…you hear that  friends of yours just bought a new house…or a car…or are heading to Aruba…or their child just received a full ride to Harvard…it is easy to do a happy dance along with them.

However, when the kids are argumentative, the car is in the shop, a third mortgage would be require to keep up with the rising price of walking into a grocery store, dread fills your heart when you think of the state of your house or your child’s report card or your waist line…is the happy dance replaced by one of self pity   when you hear the same news from above.

I am definitely not equating a future that will lead to being crucified with the ups and downs of modern life…not at all…but I will say that our lives at times are the cross that we bear…Jesus is recorded as saying this in two of the gospels in connection with following Him (Mt. 10:38; 16:24; Lk 9:23;14:27) 

I will admit that over the last few years, I have turned and looked…looked over at someone else and wondered why their life seemed so “perfect”.  Why did it feel that someone was having a heyday giving me more than what I thought was my “fair share” of hardship?  How is it that I could walk with the same Lord yet have a dramatically different life experiences than someone else? 

“Lord, what about them?”

Jesus says the same thing to me as He does to Peter…”What is it to you Helen?  You must follow me.”

I must follow Him…in smooth waters and during the crashing waves…despite what I see in every direction…in the face of what I term as just plain too much.  I am called to keep my eyes on Him and not on others…

How I love this chapter…it reveals Jesus…His tender care, concern, guidance, mercy, redeeming love…the Truth.

Help me Lord Jesus, to fiercely follow You…

wherever…

whenever…

however…

 all the days of my life…

AMEN!

 

 

 

 

Week 16 April 21, 2008

 

This week’s readings:  I Samuel 15-24; selections from I Chronicles and Psalm 5,7,13,17,22,34,35,52,54,57,59,109,133,142 and 144.

One of the parts that I am enjoying while reading the Bible chronologically is that it is just that… in order.  As David’s story begins in I Samuel…I was also treated to David’s words in the psalms that were associated to many events in his life.

I love the psalms…this week, I was especially touched as I read Psalm 34…in fact, I think this is a psalm that I could  read daily for quite awhile and I would not grow tired of it or ceased to be challenged.

PSALM 34

I will extol the LORD at all times;
       his praise will always be on my lips. 

 My soul will boast in the LORD;
       let the afflicted hear and rejoice.

 Glorify the LORD with me;
       let us exalt his name together.

 I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
       he delivered me from all my fears.

 Those who look to him are radiant;
       their faces are never covered with shame.

 This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
       he saved him out of all his troubles.

 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
       and he delivers them.

 Taste and see that the LORD is good;
       blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

 Fear the LORD, you his saints,
       for those who fear him lack nothing.

 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
       but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

 Come, my children, listen to me;
       I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

 Whoever of you loves life
       and desires to see many good days,

 keep your tongue from evil
       and your lips from speaking lies.

 Turn from evil and do good;
       seek peace and pursue it.

 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous
       and his ears are attentive to their cry;

 the face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
       to cut off the memory of them from the earth.

 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;
       he delivers them from all their troubles.

 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
       and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

 A righteous man may have many troubles,
       but the LORD delivers him from them all;

 he protects all his bones,
       not one of them will be broken.

 Evil will slay the wicked;
       the foes of the righteous will be condemned.

 The LORD redeems his servants;
       no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.

In this psalm we see God being God:

• He answers us
• He delivers us
• He changes our countenance
• He saves us out of all of our troubles
• He sends His angels to encamp around us
• He watches us
• He hears us
• He comes close when we are brokenhearted
• He protects us
• He redeems us

This psalm shows us how to walk before God:

• Extol the Lord at all times
• His praises always on our lips
• Our souls boast in the Lord
• Glorify the Lord
• Exalt His name
• Seek the Lord
• Look to the Lord
• Acknowledge our poverty
• Call out to the Lord
• Fear the Lord
• Taste the Lord and see that He is good
• Take refuge in the Lord
• Keep tongue from evil and lies
• Turn from evil
• Do good
• Seek peace
• Pursue peace
• Cry out to the Lord

The fruit of a life walked with the Lord as He is at work with us:

• No fear
• Radiant faces
• No shame
• Blessings
• There is nothing lacking that is good
• A life of many good days
• Justice
• No condemnation

What area needs your focus…is it allowing God to be God and work in your life…your situations?  Do you need to walk with the Lord in more abandon and fullness…do you need to boast about Him more to others…or do you need to just plain cry out to Him…what would it look like to not just seek peace but to pursue it…how’s your tongue…is it prone to wander?

God working as you slide your hand in His and stride as one equates to a life characterized by freedom from shame, fear,or condemation…a life that lacks no good things or good days….blessings…blessings…blessings and a face that tells the story of His grace and a life fully offered up to the Maker of Heaven and Earth. 

“Let us exalt His name together!”

It’s never to late to join us in reading the Word from beginning to end in chronological order…click here to find out more and join us.

Week 15 April 13, 2008

 

This week’s readings: 

Judges 14-16, 21-25; Ruth 1-4; selections from I Chronicles; Psalm 113; I Samuel 1-14
                                   

Have you ever spent some time with the Lord…read a few verses from the Word…mused over the fact that you have read those lines so many times before…but then…it happens…that familiar chain of words suddenly resonates with life that was not anticipated.

The above scenario occurred this week…truth be told…it probably happens more often than I realize.

I read the following:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.  Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.  Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” 

(Galatians 5: 22-26)

I asked myself these questions:

• Am I seeing fruit in my life?
• Am I seeking some fruit more than others?
• Have I crucified my sin nature?
• Am I keeping in step with the Spirit?
• Am I conceited?
• Do I provoke others? 
• Do I envy others?

This scripture seemed to be a perfect circle to me…if we belong to Jesus…we have crucified our old nature…we live by the Spirit…keeping in step with Him…our life bears the fruit of the Spirit…we have no room for envy, conceit or challenging others (as the NASB translates the word provoke)…because we have crucified our passions and desires in Christ…

I prayed for the Lord to teach me what that really means…what it really looks like…be careful what you pray for…

That evening, I encountered someone that seems to take pleasure in provoking me…and when I am not careful…I begin to bite right back…or allow myself to be provoked…I took the bait or the challenge.

I went to bed miserable…I didn’t sleep well…I woke up still bothered…I am sure there is a verse somewhere about the dangers of sleeping on anger…hmmm…

This morning during the worship…no sooner than I got the words out…in all I do, let my life bring praise to You…I knew that last evening, my life had not brought Him praise…it spoke nothing about my life supposedly crucified…

Have you scrolled back to the top of this post to see if you are indeed reading my cover to cover post?  Trust me…you are!

I read many chapters this week…but these were the words that took my breath away:

“The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.”

I Samuel 3:1

Although the Lord had spoken to Moses and Joshua, due to the wickedness of the people and Eli’s refusal to discipline his sons…God was silent.

Think about that…can you even imagine?

Ponder the ways that the Lord spoke to you last week…today…has it been in reading His Word…in hearing the Word preached…in singing praises to Him…in the company of a God seeking friend…was it in prayer…was it in a whisper…in nature…

What if it ceased?

Suppose during church, the pastor asked who had heard from the Lord in the past week…and no one raised their hands…one by one each pilgrim shook their head because the word of the Lord had become rare in their day…

Praise be to God that His Word is alive and active…sometimes as active as we want His word to be…as much as we want to hear from Him.

We can be like Samuel…and say…

“Speak, for your servant is listening.”

I Samuel 3: 10b

And God will speak…

I want to be like Samuel…

“The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground…the Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word.”

I Samuel 3: 19, 21

Speak Lord, for your servants are listening!

Check out more posts on this journey across God’s Word…you can click here.

 

 

Get some rest, dear ones… April 9, 2008

I just finished my homework for my Beth Moore study of the Psalms of Ascent…

Today was the first day looking at this psalm:

Psalm 127 (NKJV)

A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.

 1 Unless the LORD builds the house,
         They labor in vain who build it;
         Unless the LORD guards the city,
         The watchman stays awake in vain.
 2 It is vain for you to rise up early,
         To sit up late,
         To eat the bread of sorrows;
         For so He gives His beloved sleep.
         
 3 Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,
         The fruit of the womb is a reward.
 4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
         So are the children of one’s youth.
 5 Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them;
         They shall not be ashamed,
         But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

The focus of the homework was concentrating on the first two verses…the importance of being mindful that our labors will not be fruitful if God is not involved and the importance of sleep…did you realize that God is concerned about us getting sleep?  In fact, He says that he gives sleep to those He loves.  If it is something that God gives, it must be important!

I was so touched by all the comments on my goal updates (the post below)…so many of you cheered me on but also told me to take it easy…listen to my own advice…maybe I should listen to my body and get some sleep instead of trying to push through with a mentality…no pain…no gain.  Verse 2 spoke to me greatly, I woke up so sleepy this morning, haven’t gotten much done and I realize that I have been qnawing on the bread of sorrow as my dad will have a surgical procedure on his heart tomorrow…

Beth ended the lesson with a excellent equation:

Godless labor + little sleep = a futile expenditure of energy.

Adding this paraphrase…perhaps you might put your name in for Solomon’s:

Work where God work; then rest, Dear Solomon, “for so he giveth his beloved sleep” (Psalm 127: 2, KJV).

I am off to take a nap…and turn in early tonight…I don’t want to miss what work God has for me because I am tired…I hope you find rest as well.

 

8 in 2008 Update April 8, 2008

This is my monthly recap on the 8th of the month…whew…another month just flew past!  Here’s how I am doing with my great eight…some areas I am treading water…others I am learning some new strokes…still others I am perfecting those strokes…

1.  Read the Bible Cover to Cover chronologically-This goal is moving along well…despite a a couple times where I completely forgot to read…I am still thoroughly enjoying reading the Word in this way…reading the comments of the other bloggers…and writing recap posts…

2.  Celebrate time away with my husband-still a work in progress although we have been doing a little bit of dreaming…which is fun…

3.  Eat lunch everyday-I have made great strides in this goal…I don’t believe I have missed a day…I have been eating more consciously.  I have been making my lunch break a true break in the day…kind of like viewing it as the fuel and refreshment I need to get through the afternoon which is usually very full.  As I have made the effort and made it an occassion, I have actually eaten less…and as of this weekend…I have lost 10 pounds…

4.  Read The Chronicles of Narnia with Carl-we are still reading but I have a feeling we will make greater pace this summer…this spring is so busy for us and Carl would like us to begin doing a Bible study together…what could be better?!

5.  Pray for 8 who don’t know Him on the 8th of the month- I have made my list and lifted those blessed names to the Lord for His safe keeping and intervention.

6.  Hike the waterfall areas/snowshoe in the mountains-This is my hardest goal.  As I shared last month, I have arthritis in my knee…it is still very painful at times…this past week has been all about getting out of denial…I have not only lost a great deal of strength but flexibility in that leg.  On Monday, I decided to see if I could walk slowly on the treadmill…what an understatement…my normal pace would be 3.5 mph…I was at 1.5 with a limp so I had to hold onto the rails and I managed 10 minutes…this is quite demoralizing for one that has walked a marathon.  So no longer am I the physical therapist…I am the patient and I will now have to listen to my own instruction to others and slowly rehab this knee. As in life…progress is measured day by day…and in my case it will be second by second and by tenths of miles… But on the positive side…as I continue to lose weight this will lessen the impact on my poor knee.

7.  Be an active member of the 6:15 club-I will be honest…I am not doing well at all.  My heart is definitely willing but my body is so tired and I still wake up during the night with pain.  I encouraged a friend recently that God knows our seasons and has grace when we can’t get up like we desire…so once again, I will take my own advice.  I am going to work harder on getting to bed earlier…my time with the Lord is happening but just not before the family gets up…God has been faithful to give me snippets of unexpected time to draw near.

8.  Edit my favorite posts and see where they take me-I was to have 4 posts edited…I do not…I did compile a list of the ones I want to tackle.  This month I was knee deep…oh…no pun intended…ha…in finishing up my physical therapy continuing education hours online…now that I have finished that huge task…I will definitely start working on it.

Well, there you have it…another month…please click onto Elisa’s blog called Extravagant Grace to read her updates and others…

Any goals you are making progress towards…please feel free to share!

Blessings,

Helen

 

Drifting… April 6, 2008

Week 14-Judges 1-13, 17-20

drift (verb):

• float or be driven along (as by a current)
• wander without purpose
• pile up under force

Do you ever think about how easy it is to drift?

I am finding that I can be chugging along on what I perceive as the correct path…then as if I suddenly wake up from sleep…I have drifted…I didn’t intend to drift…but nonetheless I have veered off the best path.

On a given Sunday afternoon, I can write my cover to cover post and on Tuesday, I can realize that I have not read my assigned readings since I clicked “publish”…it was not a conscious decision…it just happened.

We made the difficult decision to no longer attend the church where we had fellowshipped for over 13 years…we have landed in a new place…we haven’t been to church in two weeks…being anonymous has lost its novelty…we want to be known…it could be really easy to drift into a pattern of not assembling if we are not careful…it’s not about us and our comfort…it’s all about our Savior.

When I was a sophomore in college, I spent a semester attending the University of Copenhagen…prior to that semester, a group of graduate students involved with InterVarsity mentored a group of my friends and me.  At the end of that time before I was ready to get on my jet plane and leave all that was familiar to me…my mentor Kathie presented me with a small chunky NIV Bible…just the right size for travel…inside the back cover she wrote (I know, because this Bible is often on my night table…the spine held together by packing tape):

“Helen,

It’s small, it’s paperback and it’s the beloved Word of God.  Hope you can use this in Denmark.

Love,

Kathie

*Joshua 1: 8,9*

“ Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.  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.”

My time in Denmark was wonderful and life changing…there were many times where I felt very alone…times where I needed to be strong and courageous…days where the Word was my only hope…comfort…reminder of how to walk…how glad I was that the Lord did go wherever I went.

This week I was reminded of how easy it is to drift…for the people of God long ago and today.

“After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the LORD nor what he had done for Israel.  Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD and served the Baals.”  (Judges 2: 10-11)

“In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.”  (Judges 17: 6)

We live in a world where the prevalent view could be summed up by doing whatever seems fit…whatever feels good…whatever is easy…in fact, we hear that phrase a lot…whatever…

We also are in danger of having an upcoming generation that will be encompassed by so many that do not know God and have never heard about Him…what would prevent them from continuing to adopt the dominant view?

It’s a battle not to drift…to live as if there were no King…

It takes strength and courage to not be swept up by the current of the times…

The Israelites served the Baals…who were considered  gods of storm and rain…

How interesting…just think how often the topic of weather dominates our conversations…superficials ones that encompass musings about the latest weather patterns…to planning our lives based on what the forecast outlines…perhaps we would be wise to plan our lives around the One who controls the weather…

In Judges, the people would remain true to God when their leaders guided them in His ways…when a leader died, the people’s resolve waned…they drifted…

 Gideon believed what God says about him and as a mighty warrior he does great exploits on behalf of Israel…as soon as he dies, the people seek Baals again and this entanglement causes them to be easily influenced by Abimelech to kill all 70 of Gideon’s sons…they forget God and they forget to protect Gideon’s family…the people drifted…wandering without a purpose.

Jephthah was also a mighty warrior and the Word says that the Spirit of the Lord came upon him…how is it that he made such an impetuous vow…although God delivered the Ammonites into Jehpthah’s hands…it would cost him his only child…he did not need to add to what God would do…he drifted…

In Judges 17-18, a son, Micah and his mother decide to consecrate their silver and make a carved image and cast an idol…build a shrine and install one of Micah’s own sons as priest…floating away from what God had designed.  A Levite in his travels comes upon Micah and he asks the Levite to be his priest as well as pay him and give him a place to live…the Levite agrees.

God had chosen the Levites be his priests…He also ordained that the Levites be provided for by the tithes of the people…their offerings…that this particular Levite would have to find “work” reveals that there was a lack…the fickle hearts of the people made this Levite and it is assumed others to wander without purpose…to be driven along by the current…

In chapters 19-21, it begins with a Levite and his concubine…she runs away from him…he pursues her…then on the return home, he stays at a hospitable man’s home…some wicked Benjamite men surround the house and want to sexually assault the visitor…the man wants to protect his guest and offers his daughters…the men will not accept the home owner’s virgin daughters…but do accept the Levite’s concubine…they rape and abuse her…leaving her dead on the threshold of the home…then even more of the unthinkable happens…if you don’t believe me…read these verses:

“When he reached home, he took a knife and cut up his concubine, limb by limb, into twelve parts and sent them into all the areas of Israel.  Everyone who saw it said, “Such a thing has never been seen or done, not since the day the Israelites came up out of Egypt. Think about it! Consider it! Tell us what to do!”

Judges 19: 29-30

The drifting is gone…a small current has been replaced…it is a deluge away from the Lord.

The people are wandering without purpose and try to make things better but in their attempts…the tribe of Benjamin ends up being cut off…they will not own up to their sins.

Drifting can occur so quickly…so easily…in subtle ways…it makes me think of what Paul said:

“You were running the race nobly. Who has interfered in (hindered and stopped you from) your heeding and following the Truth?

This [evil] persuasion is not from Him Who called you [Who invited you to freedom in Christ].

A little leaven (a slight inclination to error, or a few false teachers) leavens the whole lump [it perverts the whole conception of faith or misleads the whole church].”

Galatians 5: 7-9 (AMP)

Just like my college mentor encouraged me all those years ago…Here’s a sure fire way to avoid drifting:

• Love the Word of God
• Meditate on it day and night
• Let God’s Words flow from your mouth, so other generations can hear and learn
• Be careful to do what is written in the Word…not just a part…EVERYTHING!
• Be strong and courageous
• Know that God will go with you wherever you will go

Aren’t you glad we have an Eternal King?!

 

****I may not be writing a weekly cover to cover post…but you can always click here at Bev’s blog and read what others are discovering while reading the Bible chronologically…Bev’s recap this week includes her own personal threshold experience…

Please pray for Bev who has had a series of physical and financial setbacks…a broken toe…an injured back and most recently kidney failure. 

Peace to you all,

Helen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No “Ya-buts”* about it… April 3, 2008

In our family, we don’t allow “ya-buts”…I am sure you are familiar with this exchange…

Question:  Did you remember to empty the trash cans?

Answer:  Ya-but…I forgot…

Response:  No, ya-buts…

That may sound like we are a family lacking grace…there is definitely the extension of grace but it can become a casual habit to make excuses.

This week, God gently walked me through an area of trust where I struggle and struggle and struggle.  As soon as I voiced my doubts, my “ya-buts”…I was flooded with the memories of these verses:

“Is anything too hard for the LORD ?” (Genesis 18: 14)

 “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)

From the first book of the Old Testament and the first book of the New Testament, we are reminded that there is not anything that is too hard for God AND that all things are possible with God!  Could it be that God knew that His people would have the tendency to think their circumstances as insurmountable?  He lets us know right from the start…all things are possible when you walk with Him.

In my trust challenge, I have faith in God to do the impossible but as I lingered longer with the Lord, I realized that I lack trust in this someones free will to choose or reject God. 

God had me once again lay this person at the foot of Jesus and not get up until I could not/would not snatch them back.

Because with God there are no ya-buts…

Is anything too hard for the Lord…ya-but what about this?

With God all things are possible…ya-but what about this situation?

There are no excuses that can exist in the context of God’s Perfect Light and All-Powerful  Presence…there is only the Absolute Truth of His Character and His Word.

What area in your life or in the lives of those around you do you find difficult to fully submit to the Lord?

Where are you tempted to say “ya-but”? 

So today we say YES LORD…
Come Lord Jesus…
Come and take the broken pieces of our lives…
We entrust them to You…

Do that which we could never do…
The unimaginable…
The impossible…
Smooth the hard by Your miracles…

Help us to let You be You…
The God of Wonders…
The God of Grace…
The One Who Makes All Things Possible…

Praise You Lord!  AMEN…AMEN!

*To my surprise, “ya-buts” was in my spell check…wow…it must be even more common than I imagined!