Seeing the Beauty among the Thorns – Long Story {not made Short for your Entertainment}

On my way to Newtown last evening, my car broke down again…. Well actually it didn’t break down; the heater hose came off because the clasp broke.  It’s a simple fix (when you actually realize what it is… and when the engine has taken a few hours to cool down).  However, it took one girl (me), two men (mechanics), four gallons of water, and three hours to figure that out.  So there it sits in Somerton, waiting for a simple fix.

Ok, so here is run down of my week so far…. Sunday was just one of those days, my mind was everywhere and I could barely process everything that was going on inside.  So I left church early and hung out in my room packing… then I decided that wasn’t enough… I needed to get away so I packed up my laptop, my phone and my brain and hit the road. Before I knew it, I was in Newtown driving to Starbucks (it’s a very nice one, in case you didn’t know).  I ordered a drink and sat down… hung my umbrella on the back of the chair (yes, I was prepared for the rain) and set up my laptop. It was great to get away and think and edit pictures, like I was in a whole nother world.  My mind finally began to settle, my passions poured out in my work, and I enjoyed the peacefulness of being hidden for a while.  More than a few hours later, it was time to go home.  I threw out my cup, packed up my laptop, grabbed my purse and was swiftly out the back door almost as if I hadn’t been there at all. After a day of my mind racing faster than I could keep up, I was finally at rest and peace. I was remembering God’s promises and trusting them, it was good!

Amidst all the craziness of Sunday, a few other things happened to send me spinning, I won’t tell all but one that plays into the later parts of this tale was a call I received shortly after returning home from church.  Gabby, one of my roommates to be, called and informed me that they would like to sign the lease on the house a week early and needed the security deposit, the first and last month’s rent much earlier than was planned.  I was already tight in the financial area and it was going to be very close because I had pushed myself to find a place sooner than I actually needed to.  So where was all that money going to come from?  I texted Gabby back that evening and said I would figure it out and work to get them the deposit on Monday night and if they could give me till Wednesday, I would have the rest for them.  How? I still didn’t know, but I did know and believe God provides for His children.  Knowing that leaves no room for panic (which is just another term for “fear that God won’t provide” – and that is just a lack of trust). God is worthy of all our trust, so it will work out… how?- I don’t know, when?- not sure about that either; but if this is His path for me it was going to happen.

Monday was another interesting day, I got up and got ready for work… and out the door I went. I was tired and weary, why?- I wasn’t entirely sure, I had slept well that night.  I went on with work, praying and knowing God would pull it all together; (although, like a silly foolish woman that I am, I thought it would be in a certain way. I had been expecting a couple of checks and young man was suppose to be purchasing my bookshelf that night and it should have all worked out, right?!?). I got home that evening to find no checks and no indication that the young man would be buying my bookcase. What in the world?  {In frustration I went to my room, I had no idea what I was going to do. I called my mom, because she can at least help me sort my thoughts about this whole ordeal and give me recommendations about what to do.}  She said that if I sent her a total she would take care of it for now and I could pay her back in weekly installments (Thank You, MOM!). So now I just needed the rest for the security deposit. Ok, now what? Well, time to make some calls… {I had a few friends in my back pocket who said if I was ever in a pinch they would help me out if they could. So I swallowed my pride and made a call.} God is so good. With the first call, my brother in Christ sprang into action… he wasn’t supposed to be in the area that night as far as I was knew, but he said he had to come down for something.  He would be there with cash in hand to help me out at 7pm sharp (THANK YOU, Bro! {you know who you are}).  I immediately took off for the lease signing at my new house… I showed with the deposit in hand and was given my new house keys. Beverly and I just sat on the floor drinking in the reality that this was our new house and we would be happily living there very soon. Of course, the weather quickly turned to downpour as we exited the house and we had to step into a river (about a foot-a foot and a half deep of water) to get into our cars… yes, it was more like a monsoon.

I got home with my new keys and drenched to the bone… but happy anyway. God is sovereign and I was seeing the evidence of it.

Yesterday, which was Tuesday, seemed like a simple kind of day… I had planned errands for the evening (Oh and one of those errands was to go back to the Newtown Starbucks to get my umbrella I had left up there) and had to contact my mom with the total and how I planned to pay her off.  About 10am I sent my mom a total and she quickly took off to the Post Office to get a check to me rather quickly (Thanks again, MOM).  She sent me a quick text, saying it would be here by noon today (Wednesday).  Everything was now going as planned… I got home showered and dressed, and headed back out the door.  Stopping at a friend’s apartment to drop off a wedding program, I had the chance to fill in Jenna with the happenings up to that point. As a confidant and sister in Christ she willingly listened to my ranting and what had been going on, even though she really needed to go to bed as she works way too early in the am.  I chose to drive from there up Bustleton Avenue for the scenic route to Newtown.  However, my trip came to a sudden halt in Somerton.  Sitting at a light I saw steam rising from the hood of my car. Thinking to myself “this can’t be good”, I pulled off the road into the Septa Station parking lot. I popped the hood and started looking for the source… It was obvious that there was no coolant fluid and that wasn’t good.  Starting it back up I poured water into it, and it came flooding back onto the ground… “what in the world was happening?” I turned it off looking for leaking hoses and couldn’t find the source.

Then a nice gentleman (an obvious mechanic, grease on his hands and clothes) walked up and asked what was wrong. {For my Girls out there: It’s good to be a skirt sometimes… and this is def one of them.  Chivalry isn’t dead although it might be very hard to find.} He poked around and called his buddy… and after a few hours found the source of the problem.  The heater hose had become disconnected because the clasp had broken shear off.  Afraid it was going to be an incredibly expensive fix, he checked the heater core to make sure that it was still working properly (Thank, Jesus, it was).  It was now 11pm and the car def needed to cool before any work could be done on it. I knew it wasn’t going anywhere that night except to a safer parking spot, where I knew it wouldn’t be towed. The mechanic offered to fix my car when it cooled, in exchange for a small fee for finding the problem that night and fixing it the next day. I gladly agreed.  It would have cost at least a hundred to tow it and then who knows how much for a shop to fix the problem. I knew enough about cars and this car in particular that this was a good deal, and God was blessing me in it. These two men stayed with me all evening till I got a ride home, and refused to leave me stranded.  I was safe and I got to share the gospel with them, and they shared a little of the gospel with me even if they didn’t know it.  I called quite a few friends, most who didn’t even answer their phone (I knew they were busy, but I tried anyway). Finally knowing what was going on with my car, I pursued a ride home a bit more vigorously… and a friend came through, she had gotten out of bed (thank God I didn’t actually wake her), and came to get me (THANK YOU, Sista).  We talked the whole way home, got to catch up and she offered to get me to and from work today (Wednesday), as long as it didn’t interfere with her current appointments. (Now that’s family. Just sayin’!)

Today, I walked to my friend’s house, she drove me to work… lots more time to catch up, and it was great. She offered to help get me to the bank and then home this evening, although she probably couldn’t get me to my car. At work, I met with Sean, my boss, during my lunch… and requested to leave a half hour early even though we were short on staff this week. Graciously, he exclaimed “Certainly, do you need to leave earlier?… we can make that happen!” “No,” I replied, “A half an hour was a lot more than I really expected anyway.”  We then discussed my work and setting up a meeting to utilize my skills better in this position. (“YAY” {no, that wasn’t sarcasm}).  I then called Jill to ask if she could be around so Katie could pick up my paycheck, before she headed out here… Jill said she would make sure she was available to get my mail to her. (Thank YOU, Jill! BIG Hugz!) In the meantime, I received a few texts from my friend, Cindy, who offered anyway to help, so thinking about the task at hand, I asked for a ride from the house to my car tonight. She said yes!  (Thank YOU, Cindy!)

And that’s where we are to now… Katie should be here around 4:30pm to pick me up and then the rest of my evening ensues.

God is so gracious… not just to serve my needs but to show His sovereignty, His grace, and how He works us all together in community for the goodness and blessing of others… To show His Greatness and His Glory, He orchestrated each piece of this puzzle to work in a great many people that we might all be blessed by both giving and receiving!  In my sinful nature, I could easily look at all of this and think about the thorns… the bad hand I was dealt, what in the world was going on, why would all it happen to me now when I needed it the most to work out… it was all falling apart! What a lie! It wasn’t all falling apart, just my plan was, God had a bigger much more intricate plan in mind!  I think on this and am reminded all the times that I’ve looked first at the thorns and thought selfishly about my plan/story. The story never was and never will be ours, it’s God’s and when I lay aside my pride I see it, and am blessed by it!

Why are we still fighting for Feminism and Chauvinism in the Christian Community?

After catching up on my blogs today, I read a quite disturbing blog from a woman whom I really respect in the theology and life.  Her blog was fighting for true biblical complimentarianism and fighting against the chauvinism that she recently read about within the church regarding a man’s desire to rule over his wife.  Why are we still fighting this issue… Feminism is detrimental to women and men… and so is Chauvinism.  They are both rooted in pride and selfishness.

Human’s have been given authority together over the earth and the beast that are therein.  However, we are not given a rule over one another.  Yes, husbands are the head of the wife and the household,  but they are also asked to love his wife as sacrificially as Christ did for the Church.  As the head, the Husband is given authority; however, this term in koine greek is not a word used for dominance but rather protection, love, and responsibility…  This is a difficult job given to husband’s {and I honestly don’t envy you, but I do have great respect for men who do this well}, it requires a great deal of humility and sacrifice and love.  Yes, wives are called to submission, but they have a great example of this as well from Christ as he submitted his will to the will of his Father trusting the bigger picture and in this submissions the Glory of God is in Christ… in such the glory of a husband should be his wife.  This is just as hard a job given to wives, it also requires a great deal of humility and respect {we are called to be sacrificial with our time and our opinions and our tongues, we are called to listen, to inspire, to encourage, to nurture, and to empower}, we are the ones who either build up or destroy the home and the ministries that strengthen the kingdom.

Wendy is correct in saying that dominance is the Curse in Genesis 3, for both men and women.  It is NOT ok for either men or women to live in it.  Please, stop your selfish, prideful attitude… confess your sin and bring yourself back into submission of God the father.

Women… signs of feminism… are gossip, slander, anger (at your husband or children for petty things), being argumentative just to be right, … a deep desire to be in control {this is pride with a cover… and a severe doubt in the sovereignty of God’s power}.  Ladies, I encourage you focus your heart on service and love… the more you are devoted to serving well and loving better… the less time you have to let your tongue wobble and squabble… and you will become the Proverbs 31 wife. [the standards are high, but not unreachable]  Men… signs of chauvinism… desire for control or dominance, anger (at your wife or children, because they do not do exactly what you ask or expect), … this is also a cover for pride.  Brothers, I encourage you … live up to your potential… make decisions based on God and scripture… put your efforts for control to self control and protection for those under your authority… YOU were created in the image of the Almighty God and given a place of honored leadership… don’t waste it, use it well!

Paul spends a great deal of time and heart on the mess of relationships between one another and in marriage.  Listen to his words, his focus is unity and harmony within the work, will, and glory of God.  Let us all spend our time trying to measure up to Christ (not one another or controlling one another or circumstances); let us work toward truth, harmony and unity within relationships and the church; let us continue to rely on God and the strength of the Holy Spirit within us to not continue to fall prey to the Curse.

Brothers and Sisters, there is something so much better than the responses that are easiest and of our sinful human nature,

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,  giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
(Ephesians 5:15-21 ESV)

This is a view of what the Kingdom looks like and we can have it here and now if we will listen and do and stop flapping our gums on useless talk and anger and strife.

Grace and Peace to you my friends… I love you!

Why did God want to Kill Moses?!?

In the last few weeks, I have asked and received a few different challenges from friends.  They have been very good at helping me go deeper and serve better with what I know.  (Thanks guys for this.)

Most recently, I have received the opportunity to answer biblical-related questions from a manager at my new job.  He usually comes to me with questions he thinks will stump me or maybe try to get me to feed into his anger with God.  The blessing of answering this agnostic manager is that he is actually open-minded to my responses and it is a great opportunity to share the gospel with him.

So onto the latest question from Him, He came to me on St. Patrick’s and asked me ‘Why did God want to kill Moses right after He finished sending him to Egypt to free the Israelites?’ (Exodus 4.24) and then later that day stated ‘Well, I think it’s ridiculous that God wrote the bible in such a way that you can’t understand it at first read.  If He really is God, why doesn’t he write everything in plain language?!’ He asked me if I could answer his questions, which apparently has stumped everyone else he knows to be Christians. I told him to give me a day to look over the passage and I would be glad to answer his question.

Since he is infact angry with God, I refuse to give him a half-hearted easy answer.  Amongst one of my challenges from my friends is to be able to share the Gospel in every situation.

So here it is B.: First, if the bible was written in plain simple language, what would induce you to return to it to learn more? And what great piece of literature is without hinges that forces you to look back and review what was said that brings everything to light? The greatest literature ever written has many different facets and aspects to it so that you can go back and read it again and again, going deeper and deeper into the beauty of the story. Second, I implore you to go back to Genesis 17 and reread the Abrahamic Covenant. This will shed a great deal of light on the situation you see in Exodus 4.24. There is a lot of talk about covenants in the entire bible. I recommend you take time while you are reading to pay special attention to these verses and chapters.  {Also, everything in the bible is about context, context, context. What is around it verse for verse, chapter before and after, the whole bible works together as a whole.}  When God seeks to kill Moses, it is because Moses failed in carrying out his responsibility within that covenant. The sign of the covenant is circumcision, and so as it was the man’s responsibility lead his family in the covenant. It was also Moses responsibility to carry out the instructions of the Lord with regard to that covenant, meaning Moses was responsible to circumcise his son at 8 days old, no exceptions. He neglected to do so and therefore Ziphorrah saved him by doing it herself. I also suspect this was an example from God to Moses about the importance of obedience in leading and caring for those he was to lead. As you continue to read, you will see that God wants the loving obedience of His people and that circumcision is just a sign that these are his chosen people. Again, pay attention when you see language regarding covenant and circumcision, this is very important to the story as a whole. Later when you get to the New Testament, you will see a new covenant that changes this sign in a manner and how it works itself out.  Keep reading, Keep questioning, Pay attention to what you read. There is so much to see and understand.

Samuel & Desiring God

It all began with a Tweet and then God hit me with this (it’s heavy stuff, but it’s gooooood):

Samuel, who was given to the service of the sovereign God from birth, was a devoted to the Will of God.  He was devoted to God even when it went against the grain.  Samuel was a rebel and a little bit radical.  Samuel was the last Judge of Israel in a time when each person did what was right in his own eyes.  Then as life would have it what seemed like a rejection of Samuel’s authority, the people demanded a king, like all other nations.  Samuel took this news hard and God reminded Him that this was not a rejection of Samuel’s rule but rather a rejection of God, Himself as their King and Sovereign.  So we come to Samuel’s Farwell speech after appointing Saul as king.

1^st Samuel 12 – Do not be afraid… follow the Lord and do not turn aside… serve the Lord with all your heart!… The Lord will not forsake his people, BECAUSE it has Pleased Him to make you a people For Himself!… I will not sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you!… I will instruct you in the good and right way… Only fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with all your heart… Consider what great things He has already done for you!

Samuel digs deep and calls Israel to something greater and more satisfying than the idols they have made for themselves.  He encourages them by the goodness and faithfulness of God, despite their sin and rejection.  They can reap the blessings of a satisfying life,  if they live to serve the Lord with their whole heart.  Giving the Lord everything leads to pure Joy, Peace, Rest, Satisfaction, and Contentment.

These are all themes that carry us from Genesis all the way to Revelation, so why does it matter so much now for Samuel to bring it up as he passes the torch to Saul? I mean it is not like they have not been told before!  Even Deuteronomy has whole mantras on these simple words!  Why; because they forgot, and rebelled, and rejected, and forgot and so on. They were a forgetful people and simple minded; they did not get the big picture.   They were selfish and prideful and shamed; sound familiar? It should, lets jump to Mark 12,  a teacher of the law came to Jesus and asked him what the most important commandment was and Jesus replied ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind and with all your strength!’  And Mark 10.45 tells us that ‘The Son of Man came not to be served as to serve and give his life as a ransom for many.’

And now today, man’s search for significance has remained as steady as the pride and selfishness that flows from the heart. We are still asking the question that was asked so many times before, what am I suppose to do? Why am I here? If you have accepted the gospel and the truth of the Cross, then the answer is simple.  Burn your Asherah poles (idols); destroy your idols, kill those things that keep you from God.  Why, because God has not forsaken you! He has chosen you, ‘it has PLEASED him to make you a people for himself.’  We should be honored, that the Sovereign, the Almighty, has chosen us to be His, because it makes him happy!  Replace your idols with love and service and joy for God.  Don’t just clean out your heart of idols; fill it with all the blessings of God.  It is not for man to judge what is the will of God; it is for man to live it, to follow the Lord’s hand.  We are not called or chosen to create the picture, to paint, that is for the Creator, the Painter.  We are chosen to enjoy the glorious riches that the Sovereign has already placed before us.  ‘For consider what great things He has already done for you.’

Do you have issues trusting the hand of the Sovereign King?  Consider where He has already been in your life, how He has already blessed you.  Do you have problems with your pride and significance? Serve the Lord out of love and desire and joy for Him and you will find your significance lies not in your doing but in what has already been done for you. What is it that is keeping you from God? Is it shame?  There is no need, repent and see what has already been done and given too you, Ephesians, is a good place for that!

Don’t be a forgetful people, instead REMEMBER the blessings of all that God is in Himself, you need nothing else!