The Afikomen

The Afikomen 

As the generations passed from the first exodus Passover, the Jews continued to celebrate as they had been told. However, some traditions were added and changed a bit. Of particular beauty to us, as believers is the Afikomen. 

Author and scholar Marv Rosenthal has a very interesting personal history, but it's important to note his Jewish heritage and lifelong study. He was raised in a very traditional Jewish home but converted to Christianity as an adult. He then spent many years studying and writing about the New Testament in context of Jewish beliefs and traditions. 

In his discussion of the Afikomen, we are introduced in a small unassuming paragraph which simply states that during the preparation for the Passover meal, 3 matzahs are placed in a specially embroidered bag with 3 pockets called the matzah tash. As a reminder, the matzah is unleavened bread. When it is prepared, no yeast is added because it represents sin. Consequently it doesn't rise. In order for it not to bubble in the baking process, it is PIERCED! 

To restate that, there are 3 unleavened matzahs in a special bag on the table at the beginning of the seder. Early in the meal, something amazing happens. 

Listen carefully to the description Mr. Rosenthal provides: “Next, the leader removes the middle matzah from the linen bag to break it in half. Half is replaced, and half is carefully wrapped in a linen napkin and hidden away in the house while the children cover their eyes. It reappears later in the service to illustrate a very important truth.” (page 56) 

“After the meal, the children are sent out to find the broken half-matzah that was wrapped and hidden away. It is known as the Afikomen. The children search high and low with great excitement for they know that the one who finds it will receive a reward. From a remote corner of the house, shouts of delight announce that the desired treasure has been discovered. Rabbinic law requires that a small piece of the Afikomen be broken off and eaten by everyone present at the service as a reminder of the Passover Lamb.” 

The afikomen, the pierced, unleavened bread is broken (death), wrapped in linen and hidden away (burial), and brought back (resurrection). 

Ok, now hold on to your socks. 

We are reminded of the Lord’s words that night, “He broke the bread, gave it to His disciples and said, ‘Take and eat, this is my body.’” (Mat 26:26) He also said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.” (John 6:53). 

In 70 AD, the Roman armies destroyed the temple in Jerusalem, thereby ending the sacrificial system. According to Mr. Rosenthal, “Rabbinic tradition holds that the afikomen now represents the lamb, and therefore everyone must eat of it.”!!! 

No really, there’s MORE! 

When the children find the afikomen, they all proclaim the word “Afikomen!” However, it is the only non-Hebrew word in the Seder. It is Greek. It means – “I CAME.” Is that not the most amazing thing EVER?! It’s right there in the Passover, “I came!” How much plainer can He make it? He IS the afikomen! GLORY to God!

The Chief Cornerstone And The Petras

According to First Peter 2:3-8, Jesus is called the Living Stone and the Chief Cornerstone, while believers are described as living stones, being built “into a spiritual house for a holy priesthood…” 

We’ve often heard Christ referred to as the Chief Cornerstone – the foundation of the Church. But do we fully grasp the richness of that image and what it implies for the rest of the stones? According to my research, the Chief Cornerstone: 

• Sets the alignment and stability of the entire structure; every other part is measured from it. 

• Bears the weight of the entire building. 

• Holds the walls together – it’s the unifying strength. 

Importantly, the Chief Cornerstone is placed first, with intentionality - often, in the northeast corner. This is symbolically significant, especially in light of the eastern facing entrance of the tabernacle and temple. 

Placement of the Cornerstone was a ceremonial event, sometimes accompanied by a blood sacrifice, and it was often inscribed with the name of the owner and builder – a sign of ownership and new beginning. 

Peter further describes Jesus as the Living Stone which men rejected and threw away, “but which is chosen and precious in God’s sight.” (v 4) 

We are instructed to come to Him like living stones to “be built into a spiritual house, for a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable and pleasing to God. 

But what is the deeper meaning of these stones? 

First let’s recall that in Matthew16:15-19, Jesus asked the disciples “Who do you say that I am?” In response, Simon declares that Jesus is “The Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus calls Peter blessed for his understanding, because he could only have declared it so because the Father revealed it to him. He says to Simon, “You are Peter (the English form of the Greek word Petros or Cephas in Aramaic) and on this rock [Greek Petra – a huge rock] I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” 

In other words, Jesus is declaring that He will build His church using petra, or stones. Again, in 1Peter 2:5, Peter tells us to come as living petra to be built up into a spiritual house for a holy (dedicated) priesthood. 

It is important to note that during the building process in which these stones are used, they must be cut and squared using copper chisels in order to fit together very precisely and very tightly. If they were not shaped properly, the entire building would be off. 

Since Christ is building His Church using the Petra, we absolutely must allow Him to shape us to fit together with the other living stones around us. We must come together with other believers as closely and tightly as possible. This is why the Lord admonishes us to come together in the fellowship of the saints, and why it is so vital to be fit together with the full body of believers. 

To be a Christian but insist that we don’t need to be part of the body, indicates a fundamental misunderstanding of why we are called to gather in the first place. It's not optional. When the building is complete, the stones which were not fit together into the structure would have been lying as rubble outside the walls to be collected and removed. If Christ is building His Church, do we really want to be outside on the ground to be collected as refuse and disposed of? Perish the thought! 

Some of these stones were also ground using a harsh abrasive to polish them smooth. This allowed them to fit together even more snuggly, with no open spaces in between, as that would have allowed erosive wind and rain to encroach. The tight fit kept these corrosive elements out. Some of the stones thus polished were also used for decorative purposes, adding beauty to the structure; they were honored, adorned, and visible. 

Your trials, your shaping, your abrasions may be for more than utility. You may be called to be a reflection of His glory in both structure and splendor. 

In Petra, builders carved large steps into the rockface to support work at higher levels. These steps weren’t decorative; they were platforms of support, allowing the workers to stand firm and operate with skill—without relying on lesser supports like ropes. 

But to create those steps, the stone had to be cut more deeply, ground more extensively. 

This struck me. 

Do we desire to be used by God at higher levels—but resist the deeper shaping and grinding it requires? 

The steps were made not for show, but for service. God’s work at elevated heights requires those who are willing to be cut more deeply, shaped more intentionally, and placed with purpose to provide stability for His work. 

To be part of God’s holy dwelling, we must embrace the shaping of the Master Builder. Let us not shy away from the chisel or the grinder. Let us welcome the friction of fitting together—knowing that in that closeness, we are sheltered from corrosion and made strong. 

As living stones, we are not merely part of a structure—we are part of a living legacy, bearing the weight of the testimony of Christ, fitted together to reflect His beauty, built on the Chief Cornerstone who will never be moved. 

“Father, shape me according to Your will. Cut away what does not belong. Polish me where I must shine. Fit me tightly into Your house, with joy and humility. I long to be useful in Your hand.”

The Consequences of Discouragement and Neglect

Our natural Florida every-afternoon-rainstorm weather had caused my cucumber plants to mold. Over several weeks, I had spent considerable time tilling soil on a patch of earth covering approximately 75 square yards. I tilled it, weeded it, planted it, hauled nearly 50 large wagons full of compost to it, watered it, and otherwise tended it. All the while, I prayed that the Lord would bless my effort. After all, I reasoned, I was doing important and useful work. I asked Him to send rain and a bountiful harvest. And rain, it did. So much, in fact, my crops were drowning. The worms, on the other hand, were not. Nor did they respond in any appreciable way to the pesticide we applied. As discouragement set in, I responded by grumpy neglect. The Lord has shown me again that my best efforts can do nothing to bring the harvest. Only the Lord of the Harvest can do that. Today He led me, scissors in hand, to my cucumbers. They were a tangled mess of molded vines and soggy leaves. Slowly I began to snip away the dead leaves. This gave way to clipping entire branches. Ultimately, I uprooted entire plants. In the end, all that remained were the few plants which were actually bearing fruit. I was reminded of my favorite section of scripture, John 15 where our Lord describes Himself as the vine and us as the branches. How like My Father to reveal Himself through a physical picture of a spiritual reality. When we allow the enemy to take a foot hold through discouragement and neglect, we are left with a moldy mess of twisted dead branches that are good for nothing. We do not reap a harvest and eventually bring forth no good thing and must be uprooted. I noticed as well, the tendrils of the good plants had grabbed hold of the dead plants. When the dead rot was stripped away, the healthy plants suffered some damage. We must be careful to not become entwined in the sin, corruption and dead works of those closest to us. They will ultimately cause us injury. It was truly a disgusting endeavor. Upon completion, my hands and clothing were covered with nasty grime. It was slimy and putrid and in all ways revolting. How good of our God to be our vine-keeper. How sweet of Him to tend to us in our corruption and slime. How marvelous that He would care to tend us and lift us up out of the muck and mire, clean us up and set us to good healthy growth. Lord, please protect me from discouragement and neglect of my spiritual life. Please prune me Lord, so I may bear much fruit for the good and glory of Your Kingdom. Help me Lord to remember I have work to do, but only You can grow me and prosper me, only You can bring a harvest. I must do my part, but ultimately You are the vine. I am but a branch.

The Way Out

Paul tells us in Romans we are without excuse for not believing because God gives us a consciousness of Himself which is reflected in the glory of His creation. In other words, He has given us proof throughout creation and has quickened our spirit to recognize Him in it (Romans 1:19-20).

It is important to note verse 20 ends with a comma: “…So men are without excuse,” (v 20) Verse 21 begins with the word BECAUSE. It is a complete thought when read through, as shown here:

For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that THEY ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE,
BECAUSE that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations and their foolish heart was darkened.”

They KNEW GOD! He is referring to believers. They KNEW God, but they did not glorify Him AS God and they were not thankful.

Sweet sister in Christ, may I in all humility ask you to consider: You know God, but do you glorify Him as God? And, do you give Him thanks?

I ask not to condemn, but rather, because it was a hard question for me, as I did not like the answer.

The remainder of verse 21 and the verses which follow give a very clear yet frightening description of the results if we fail to do these two things. For this scripture, let’s use the NIV, as it uses modern vernacular to plainly show these consequences, rather than being hidden by the pretty and somewhat unrecognizable words used in the King James Version. These consequences are not pretty and should be laid bare.

21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.
22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools
23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.
24 Therefore, God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.
25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator - who is forever praised. Amen.
26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones.
27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.
28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.
One may read the above and think, “Well, I have never done those horrible things, so I’m good.” Read on dear sister.
29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips,
30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents;
31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy.
32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

Wow. And, ouch. I invite you to go to the Lord in prayer, asking Him to reveal through the power of the Holy Spirit at work in you which of these you are guilty of committing. Ask Him to quicken your heart as you read through the list again, one item at a time. If we ask with a fervent and sincere heart ready to admit, confess, and repent, He is faithful; He will show us the truth of our sinfulness in order that we may repent and have forgiveness and cleansing from all unrighteousness.

As believers we tend to think we are not guilty of big sins, just the occasional small one. But, let’s be honest with ourselves before the God Who already knows.

• Envy
• Murder
• Strife
• Deceit
• Malice
• Gossip
• Slander
• God-hater
• Insolent
• Arrogant
• Boastful
• Invent ways of doing evil
• Disobey parents
• No understanding
• No fidelity
• No love
• No mercy
• Approve of those who do these things



We would shy away from anyone who is a God-hater, but what about gossip? Am I a gossip? Do I approve when others gossip with me? Am I merciful? Do I sow strife with my complaining or slander?

Paul tells us clearly; these sins are a direct result of failure to glorify God as God and failure to give Him thanks.

Many years ago, I was told the word glorify means “to give an accurate estimation of.” When God commands us to give Him glory, we are to give an accurate estimation of Him. In doing so, we cannot possibly over-state His attributes. The harder we attempt to put His glory into words, the more we see how impossible it is to fully glorify Him. He is beyond our comprehension. In our attempts to glorify Him as God (Rom 1:21), we will always fall short and sin (see Rom 3:23).

We should not miss that it states we must glorify Him AS God. Do we live out our lives giving Him the accuracy AS GOD of our life? Or rather, do we live most of the week making less of Him than is accurately due Him, and then try to make up for it with a little praise and worship on Sunday?

Again, the presence of these specific sins in our lives are given by inspiration to be the direct result of our failure to glorify God as God. However, He promises the same sinfulness and depravity when we fail to give Him the thanks due to Him. Count your blessings! Name them. One by one.

We are to give Him glory, thanks and praise.

As a young Christian, I did not understand why God would require us to praise Him and glorify Him. To illustrate the effect of praise, someone near and dear to me replied, “Ok, tell me all the things you admire about me.” And so, I began to list off qualities of them I love and appreciate. As I did, a change happened in both of us. For me, having my attention drawn to these things made me appreciate them more.

When we focus on glorifying God and giving an accurate estimation of Him, we by comparison become small. As it should be. “He must increase, I must decrease.”

He is AWEsome! He is amazing! He is Beautiful! He is Powerful! And SO much more. I am none of these things. The best I can manage is as filthy rags in contrast.

Only when we fully understand we are nothing and He is everything, can we possibly give Him the glory and honor due Him. Only then can we see clearly all the thanks we owe Him. The consequences for failure to do so is sin and depravity. But, praise God, He has shown us the way out.

Good Bye to 2015

As 2015 Comes to a close, I look back over a year that has been spiritual drought for me, a year of wandering in a desert. Perhaps it has been a time that the Lord has been testing me, or preparing me? Perhaps both.

I have found that during such times He is working on me in ways I am not aware. I may never know until I meet Him face to face. Until then, I will walk in faith knowing He has great plans for me and that He loves me deeply. I will rest in the knowledge His plan and His will for my life is greater than anything I can possibly think or imagine.

In this last month of 2015, He has begun to stir up new understanding and new learning in my life. I am excited to walk with Him into this new phase to see what He is going to reveal of Himself.

There have been a few events in the past few weeks which are drawing me to study the scriptures again in a new light, and it is so thrilling. During one of the events shaping this new change, someone pointed me to this verse:

Isaiah 45:3 says I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places,
so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.

What an awesome promise from God! I LOVE to be in the Word and listen as He reveals Himself in the hidden treasures of His Word. What a humbling and thrilling thing it is to be summoned by name by the God of all creation! How awesome it is that the God who breathed the stars into place by the power of the Logos, would deign to lavish priceless wealth upon us, His secret wisdom!

I go into 2016 with great anticipation of yet again being enthralled by my King. I hope and pray that when 2016 comes to close that this blog will be full of new insight.

In the past, as I have watched the numbers of readers decline to extremely small numbers, I have considered giving up on it all together. But then I was challenged by the Lord. "Would you still write even if I were the only One listening?" "Yes, Lord, I would." So, if you are reading this, know that I am truly honored that you would take the time to read this. But, yes Lord, I am writing to an audience of One.

Thank you Father, and praise you for the gift of Your Word! Thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit, by whom we are given understanding and insight into the secret treasures and hidden things. Thank You that You have not left us orphans in this world, but have provided us the Way of Life and Truth, through Your Son. Thank You for revealing Yourself to us. During this coming year, I pray Your presence and revelation to all who seek you. Please give us a deep thirst and yearning for You, and please satisfy us through a filling of the Holy Spirit and quench us through Your Word. Draw is in and dazzle us! We Delight in Your Word, and fall down in worship! By the resurrection power of Jesus Christ, AMEN!

Note: One of the amazing things I learned this week is that the original Hebrew word rendered "delight" in the Old Testament carries the connotation of bowing or bending down. When we are delighted in His Word, as He reveals Himself to us there, it should cause us to bow down. As we understand more of Him, it should cause us to see how very low we are. He must increase, and I must decrease.

Sunrise Through My Window

As I stood by the window in the gray before sunrise, I waited with anticipation to hear what the Lord would say. He had wakened me with gentle nudging, "Come, be with me. I want to show you something." After a short lull back into the warmth of blankets and sleep, I heard it again, "Come! Be with me!" And so, I left the covers behind and went. I did not want to miss the gift of the company of my Lord.

Still groggy, we went to the kitchen to warm some day-old coffee. As I stood in the cold kitchen drawing warmth from the cup, I leaned against the sink and watched the world light up with the coming of the sun. Slowly the grays shifts to blues and fiery pinks.

From the vantage of this window, I can see mostly trees which, without my glasses, appear only large black masses. If I lean to the right, bits of sky peek through the branches and around the edges.

Slowly the hues brightened, revealing their beauty in splashes of brilliance shining through the darkness. At once, I saw what He was revealing of Himself.

How like that scene is the life we live. From my vantage, the world seemed small and dark. We see only glimpses of His magnificence, small patches of His beauty and light sparkling through the darkness.

Through the window frame of this mortality we see only that which He allows us to see. The framework He uses to structure our lives becomes the context of our individual perspective. Yet, just beyond the frame of the window that is my life and the shadows of the trees which seem to fill it, is the beautiful reality of endless sky.

We see only a glimpse here and there of His Light, obscured by the darkness of what seems to us to be all of reality. Nevertheless, if we just shift ever-so-slightly to the right, we see there is so much more than we can even comprehend of His magnificence.

His glory is infinite! It is not bound by the limits of our perspective. The darkness of the trees is only a shadow of this world.
Just on the other side is endless blue sky and splendid ceaseless sunlight!

Thank You and Praise You, Father for waking me this morning to see You show me the Truth of Yourself once again. I knew when You said, "Come, be with Me." that there was beauty to behold. Oh how I love when You reveal bits of Yourself to me! I treasure our time as You tarry unrushed with me! Thank You, Lord!

Just now as I prayed that, the sun broke through the trees and shone brightly through my window!

Oh how marvelous,
Oh how wonderful,
is the Father's love for me!

My Mother's Legacy of Service

Over the years I spent with my mother, I never knew a time when she was not volunteering at something. Her health made it a struggle, but she always found a way to serve. Often, my sister and I had the privilege of helping.

Before I was 10 years old, I knew how to find a store manager and request permission to post a sign for important events such as the Red Cross Blood Drive or our church's Shut-In Mass. I had stuffed envelopes and waved at passers-by dressed as a clock for a political campaign. And, the list goes on.

Even when we were not able to participate, we understood that serving should be constant. We learned this as she shared her experiences with us.

I recall her return home one Sunday afternoon, after she had been volunteering as a chaplain at the local hospital. She seemed lost in thought, but proceeded to explain. She recounted a series of events which she attributed to the work of the Holy Spirit to put her exactly where she needed to be, when she needed to be there. She was on the elevator, where she met a man with a boy and a girl around 8 and 10 years old, both of whom were sobbing. The man explained to mom that they were on their way to say goodbye to their mother. She accompanied them and stayed with them until they were ready to leave.

I cried as I listened and then asked her, "How did you do it?!" She said simply, "Just hold their hand and let the Lord lead."

During another season, she was a teacher of English as a foreign language at our town's library. She didn't just teach English, however, she got involved in their lives and taught them our culture.

Three of her students were a man and his two sisters from Czechoslovakia. He spoke some English, but the women did not. Shortly after mom began working with them, the man died unexpectedly, leaving his sisters behind alone in a foreign country whose language they didn't speak. My mother stepped up. Imagine trying to translate to and for people you couldn't understand yourself. But, she did it - with God's help, she insisted. They became life-long friends.

There are many more examples, not only of things she did, but lives she changed.

In her later years, she read books to a blind man until she could no longer speak. Before she reached that point however, she read the entire Bible onto tape for him. At that time there was no such thing as audio books. When she could not read anymore, she took up her knitting needles.

She spent hour after hour knitting bandages for a leper colony in the Philippines. They were needed because they were lint-free and reusable. She suffered from Carpel Tunnel and would knit until her arms cramped. She'd stop only long enough to rub the circulation back into them and then continue with her labor of love. In all, she knitted hundreds of yards of the bandages before passing away at only 62 years old.

I learned a lesson from my mother which has become a passion and a way of life. She taught me that if you can breathe, you can find something to do for someone. She may have been weak in body, but the Lord made her strong in spirit to do every work He set before her.

I still treasure her knitting needles. In death, she left them behind, along with her legacy of service. She and they will never be forgotten. I love you, Mom.

Praise you, Lord, for a godly example of living to serve. May I remain eager to serve You. Show me the way, Lord. What work do you have for me? Help me to remain faithful and to train up these children You have entrusted to me as servants for Your Kingdom, and may we together continue her beautiful legacy for future generations. AMEN.

Though My Fields Be Empty

So many times I wonder why God does things. We all do. When Life gets hard, we often ask the Lord, "Why me?" as though it should have been someone else. When situations arise that shake us to our core, it's easy to think God must have been mistaken. This is not how life is supposed to be.

It's easy to see this tendency in the circumstances that threaten to overtake our lives as we know them. But, what about during the more mundane happenings that pass each day? We often miss the Hand of God and His fingerprints in life's minor inconveniences.

This year, as in years past, I planted a garden or, more accurately, a crop. It was not your average "throw some seeds in the ground and see how they do" affair. Not in the least.

It began with reading and planning and dirt testing. Then days filled with hand tilling and soil enhancement. By the time planting days deemed appropriate by the Farmer's Almanac arrived, I was exhausted both mentally and physically. My hands had more blisters than a sunburned albino and every muscle in my body protested even the slightest movement.

And, I prayed through every step in the process. I prayed harder as the work got harder. With more pain came more prayer. In the end, I cried to the Lord. Tears rolled with sweat down my face as I begged for His strength just to finish, and I praised Him when I did.

The weeks passed as I watered. My garden looked lovely. It was exciting to see the sprouts spring up and still more exhilarating to watch them bloom and grow. Praise the Lord for His goodness!

"Wait...is that...gasp!...mold?! Ok. Don't panic, just water every other day instead. Great, now they look dry and burnt."
It went from bad to worse. First the cucumber vines succumbed, then the potatoes. "Not the corn, Lord! Really?"

In the end, we lost it all. Frustration set in and then anger. "Lord, did I not pray? Did I not ask for your blessing and favor? Did I not promise to tithe the first fruits?" I reasoned. I don't often get angry with God, but I could see no fault of my own for this failure.

Often I sit on the front porch of our country home for my quiet time with Him. Since the devastation that was my garden sits close to the porch, I had avoided seeing it and opted instead for the comfort of the kitchen table for devotions, until the morning He nudged me back outside.

As I sat contemplating the mess with hurt in my heart, He led me straight to a verse which I don't know if I could find again if I tried. It said, in essence, "Yea, though my fields be empty, Lord, yet will I praise thee."

I no longer see failure in the brown cornstalks poking up out of the ground, I see the gentleness of a Father who loves me. I see His sovereignty. I see a lesson. And, I see that, although I do the tilling and the plating and the watering, it is He alone who gives the harvest.

Father, please forgive my presumptuousness and the ensuing temper tantrum. I am humbled before you, my King. Thank you for the opportunity to serve in Your fields. It is an honor and a privilege. Thank you for granting the strength to complete the tasks you set before me. And, "Though my fields be empty, Lord, yet will I praise thee." AMEN!

Without You Lord, I am Nothing

So much time has passed, I scarcely know where to begin. However, this is not about me. It is about a life affected by the Lord.

The last years have been trying to say the least. What I have found most difficult to bear is the time of spiritual dryness. I have endured a protracted time of barrenness in my relationship with the Lord, and it has been agonizing.

To my shame, I had harbored thoughts in my heart so deeply, I didn't even know they were there. I had the audacity to believe in some way all I had learned and studied about God's Word was a result of work I had done. I supposed the knowledge was my own. In my pride, the Lord "slapped me off my donkey." His discipline to such an attitude was swift and justifiably harsh, and I am glad.

It taught me a lesson I will not soon forget. I came to the immediate understanding that without the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I do not even have the capacity to comprehend the words in the Book, let alone to soak into their rich and deep context. The great beauty I have experienced in the pages of His Word has absolutely nothing to do with me nor any intrinsic ability on my part. I have enjoyed profound revelation of His glory in the pages of His Word only through the gift of His grace and generosity. He has delighted my soul.

When the realization of my arrogance arose in my mind, I was immediately cut off from understanding. Throughout the months and years to follow, I would occasionally have a moment of clarity in which He would show me in my desperation that He was still with me and had not abandoned me altogether. Those times, however, were few and far between and mere fleeting glimpses of closeness I yearned to experience everlasting.

As well, during this time, I had asked a professional writer friend of mine if there was any potential in my writing. The response cut me to the quick. I was informed that my writing is "not interesting." I have wrestled with this declaration for quite some time now. At first, I felt hurt mixed with no small amount of embarrassment. I decided never to write again. But I waver as I am reminded of His question to me, "If I were the only one listening, would you write anyway?" Yes, Lord, I would.

Well, this season of desolate isolation appears to be nearing its conclusion. I find myself in a place of refreshment and renewal, and my soul rejoices!

Since I have received many more messages indicating the writing the Lord has put on my heart touches the souls of others, I have decided to fulfill my promise to my Father. Yes Lord, I will write as though You are the only one listening. I will extol You. I will allow my soul to sing of the good things You show me. I will never again take them for granted nor will I allow myself to harbor vanity in my heart.

Without You Lord, I am nothing.

Jewels From Exodus 12

This morning was delightfully quiet. My children are all away at their Mamaw and Papaw’s house for a nice visit. Selah… I can breathe and pray and praise. This should not be the exception, but all too often it is.

As I sat in the quiet, I asked the Lord to delight me with His Word. This is absolutely my favorite thing to do in life. I LOVE the Word of God and studying it is akin to panning for gold. The treasure hidden therein is beauty beyond compare, and we miss if it we are not intently searching it out. And, as the good and mighty Abba Father that He is, He did indeed delight me again.

I read the following section of Exodus 12 regarding the Passover:

12 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, 2 This month shall be to you the beginning of months, the first month of the year to you. 3 Tell all the congregation of Israel, On the tenth day of this month they shall take every man a lamb or kid, according to [the size of] the family of which he is the father, a lamb or kid for each house. 4 And if the household is too small to consume the lamb, let him and his next door neighbor take it according to the number of persons, every man according to what each can eat shall make your count for the lamb. 5 Your lamb or kid shall be without blemish, a male of the first year; you shall take it from the sheep or the goats. 6 And you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month; and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall [each] kill [his] lamb in the evening. 7 They shall take of the blood and put it on the two side posts and on the lintel [above the door space] of the houses in which they shall eat [the Passover lamb]. (AMP)

It fascinates me how the Lord uses the very physical events and descriptions of the Old Testament to teach spiritual truths, and these 7 short verses are packed with those multi-faceted spiritual gems. They are dazzling to the eye when viewed through the eyes of Christianity.

First, we are told that the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt. Think of this, the Lord God communicated with man in the place of his bondage. Spiritually speaking, we are slaves to whatever and whomever and wherever we are before the deliverance achieved by the Lord on our behalf. He met them where they were, not where He ultimately wanted them to be.

Also, He communicated to them specifically what He needed for them to do in their present situation in order to work a miracle to serve as a witness to His greatness. I heartily dispute anyone who claims the Lord stopped speaking as soon as John put down his quill at the end of Revelation. My God does NOT change. He has not stopped performing miracles and He has not stopped talking. Tragically, those who say He no longer speaks are those who have stopped listening. Nowhere in the Bible does it in any way indicate that He would stop speaking and in fact we are told, the Holy Spirit gifts some to be pastors, some to be teachers, and some to prophecy (Matthew 23:24, John 8:47, John 18:37, 1 Corinthians 12:28-29, Ephesians 4:11). Why in the world would we continue to have pastors and teachers, but not prophets? In such an instance, we are not taking God at His word, but rather picking and choosing what we will believe. He said what He meant, and He meant what He said. But, I digress.

He prefaced His words to them by telling them that this command that He was about to give them was so profound that it would change the way they recorded time. It was to become an entirely new reckoning of time. It was a new Beginning.

3 Tell all the congregation of Israel, On the tenth day of this month they shall take every man a lamb or kid, according to [the size of] the family of which he is the father, a lamb or kid for each house.

The father of each household was to choose a Lamb for his family. Though it is socially unpopular, one cannot escape the command of the Lord for the father to be the spiritual leader of his home. This verse is only one of many that corroborate the importance of his role to the spiritual health of the family. It is God-ordained. Many volumes can and have been written regarding this subject alone. But again, I digress.

Each house was responsible for accepting the Lamb into their home. All of Israel corporately as a nation was commanded to perform this task, yet each family was responsible for their own portion. Each family, with father as head, had a role to play. And, father had to be mindful of the size of his family. He was responsible for each one having sufficient food.

4 And if the household is too small to consume the lamb, let him and his next door neighbor take it according to the number of persons, every man according to what each can eat shall make your count for the lamb.

If there was going to be any left over, they were to share with their closest neighbor, every man according to his appetite. This verse is so very rich! First, if we have more of the sacrifice than we are able to consume, we are to share it! Not only are we commanded to share it, we are told to share it with our nearest neighbor or those closest to us. They were not to go across the camp and share it with someone on the other side, or to search out their relatives. They were to share it right there where God had planted them. We have become a church obsessed with foreign missions.

Please do NOT misunderstand me. I totally support missions here and ABROAD. Everyone should have the opportunity to hear the Great News of the Gospel of Christ. But even the Lord said,"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:8) He started in Jerusalem.

There are people right next to us who need to have the soul satisfying supper. They are our responsibility. We should not be so concerned what someone is eating across the camp (globe) if our neighbor is starving for lack of the sacrificial Lamb. Those foreign believers have neighbors and responsible to share with each other as well. However, as I said, if the Lord has instructed someone to go, then certainly go. Let’s just not ignore the widow next door in order to do it. In my humble opinion.

“…Each man according to what he can eat…” Isn’t that amazing? Our Heavenly Father intends for us to be completely satisfied and has indicated that the portion that satisfies us in entirely individual!

A very dear woman of God said to me early in my walk, “You can have as much of Jesus as you want, pray that He always keeps you thirsting and yearning for more.” And so, I have. I believe I could eat the whole Lamb myself! And each time I hunger after Him, I am filled. But, though I am filled does not mean in any way that there is less for anyone else in the family, for all appetites have been considered and the Lamb is sufficient for us all! Just like the miracles of the loaves and fishes, no one who comes to the table of the Lord need ever walk away hungry.

At the same time, we are cautioned to let NONE go to waste. And again, just as he portrayed in the miracles of the feeding of thousands, the remains were collected so that “none would be lost” or wasted (John 6:12). What a tragedy it would be for any of Christ’s sacrifice to remain unconsumed and thus be tossed aside as so much refuse. God said He would not allow His Holy One to see corruption. It is incumbent upon us to be sure that each of our neighbors has been offered to partake.

5 Your lamb or kid shall be without blemish, a male of the first year; you shall take it from the sheep or the goats. 6 And you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month; and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall [each] kill [his] lamb in the evening.

We who are in Christ know that He alone was the Lamb without blemish. He was the only sinless, spotless sacrifice ordained from the foundation of the earth. There is no other. He was set apart or sanctified for the work of God. And He was indeed killed by the congregation of Israel. I have had readers on this blog from every part of the world, so no matter where you are, please hear me… I am not anti-Semitic. Jesus was a Jew! They were His chosen people and He loves them, and so must I. Just as the Passover Lamb HAD to be sacrificed in order for the blood to be applied and the Angel of Death to pass over, so too did the Lord Jesus Christ HAVE to be sacrificed. What the Jewish leader of Jesus’ time did was ordained by God.

7 They shall take of the blood and put it on the two side posts and on the lintel [above the door space] of the houses in which they shall eat [the Passover lamb].

I think the King James Version is a bit more descriptive in this verse. It says that they were to “strike” the door posts.

Imagine the scene with me, if you will. Each family is standing together at the door. Each person dressed in their traveling clothes, as if ready to leave in a moment. They are about to embark on a journey. They have some place to go. Once the miracle of passing from death to life has been accomplished, we begin to move toward the Promised Land. He does not save us from slavery in order for us to stay there. He does not free us, only to have us remain in that place. We are ready to move with Him and on the way we will see the works of His mighty hands! He will rise up on our behalf and show us His power along the way! Oh what a sweet journey! Hard, very hard, but oh so amazing!

So, there they all are at the door of their temporary abode, dressed for the journey. In one of father’s hands is a bowl of blood and in the other is a small bundle of hyssop. As commanded, he dips the hyssop in the blood and strikes or slaps the first door post. Blood is dripping and upon impact with the post, spatters. He dips again and…splat… hits the other door post. More dripping, more spatter. Gravity carries the blood to the floor. Again he dips the hyssop and slaps it upward to the top beam. I wonder how much of the blood is now splattered, splashed, and dripped on father. Scripture does not specify how much or the blood must be used, but I imagine it was messier and bloodier than we initially tend to think.

In your mind’s eye look left, then right, then up, and now down. There is likely a pool of blood across the bottom as well. There is a cross of blood, is there not? Do you see it?

The precious Blood of the unblemished Lamb in a perfect cross on the door posts of your temporary abode, so that the Angel of Death will pass over you. Once you have partaken of the sacrificial Lamb, you are prepared to embark on a journey with Him of Biblical proportions. You are immediately freed and you flee from the oppressor and run with Him, as He escorts you from the place of your bondage to the Land of Promise, the place He has prepared for you. Oh SELAH!

Blessed are You, Oh Lord of all creation! You and You Alone are worthy to be praised! How delightful is Your Word! How amazing! Father I pray that each and every soul who reads these words will be blessed by them. I pray your hand on each one that you will show them the freedom of Christ, if they do not already know Him. I pray that those who do know Him will be brought into fresh remembrance of the beauty and awe of Your Word. Thank You Father for this opportunity to gaze into the record of Your mighty work on our behalf and see You again for who You Are! Thank you for dazzling us with brilliant, vivid jewels You have hidden for us and then reveal to us! Praise You, Father!

Spiritual Discouragement and Neglect

Our natural Florida every-afternoon-rainstorm weather had caused my cucumber plants to mold. Over several weeks, I had spent considerable time tilling soil on a patch of earth covering approximately 75 square yards.

I tilled it, weeded it, planted it, hauled nearly 50 large wagons full of compost to it, watered it, and otherwise tended it. All the while, I prayed that the Lord would bless my effort. After all, I reasoned, I was doing important and useful work. I asked Him to send rain and a bountiful harvest.

And rain, it did. So much, in fact, my crops were drowning. The worms, on the other hand, were not. Nor did they respond in any appreciable way to the pesticide we applied.

As discouragement set in, I responded by grumpy neglect. The Lord has shown me again that my best efforts can do nothing to bring the harvest. Only the Lord of the Harvest can do that.

Today He led me, scissors in hand, to my cucumbers. They were a tangled mess of molded vines and soggy leaves. Slowly I began to snip away the dead leaves. This gave way to clipping entire branches. Ultimately, I uprooted entire plants. In the end, all that remained were the few plants which were actually bearing fruit.

I was reminded of my favorite section of scripture, John 15 where our Lord describes Himself as the vine and us as the branches. How like My Father to reveal Himself through a physical picture of a spiritual reality. When we allow the enemy to take a foot hold through discouragement and neglect, we are left with a moldy mess of twisted dead branches that are good for nothing. We do not reap a harvest and eventually bring forth no good thing and must be uprooted.

I noticed as well, the tendrils of the good plants had grabbed hold of the dead plants. When the dead rot was stripped away, the healthy plants suffered some damage. We must be careful to not become entwined in the sin, corruption and dead works of those closest to us. They will ultimately cause us injury.

It was truly a disgusting endeavor. Upon completion, my hands and clothing were covered with nasty grime. It was slimy and putrid and in all ways revolting. How good of our God to be our vine-keeper. How sweet of Him to tend to us in our corruption and slime. How marvelous that He would care to tend us and lift us up out of the muck and mire, clean us up and set us to good healthy growth.

Lord, please protect me from discouragement and neglect of my spiritual life. Please prune me Lord, so I may bear much fruit for the good and glory of Your Kingdom. Help me Lord to remember I have work to do, but only You can grow me and prosper me, only You can bring a harvest. I must do my part, but ultimately You are the vine. I am but a branch

A Life of Regrets

Live in such a manner that when you are old and looking to finish well, you will have no regrets.

But what do you do with a life of regrets at 45? How do you turn that bus around? What do you do when you have backed yourself into a corner hemmed in by consequences of life choices that preclude you from stepping forward into your calling?

I keep being told that nothing in life will satisfy me if I don’t live my calling. I KNOW!! Trust me! I know!

But what do I do now? I have made decision that cannot be unmade. I have put myself in a position where I am unable to do that which I feel called to do and I am unsatisfied. Now what?

Any ideas? Any suggestions? I know there are people reading these posts. I can see the numbers. I really covet YOUR advice… Please feel free to comment.

As a reminder, if you are reading this in an email, you need to click the link (the blue underlined web address) to get to the actual blog. If you comment or respond only to the email, it will not reach me.

A Prayer for Young Adults

If I may be so bold, might I please offer a bit of advice to those readers who are on the cusp of leaving the nest?

There was a time in the life of each adult that we were where you are. I think it fair to say, each of us made some mistakes along the way that we have learned from. I think it equally fair to say that we wish we had listened to those older folks who tried to warn us of the pitfalls before we fell headlong, but didn’t.

As I reflect upon those decisions that were life altering and filled with regret, I can say one thing with a certainty:

PLEASE prayerfully consider what the Lord is calling you to do and then do it, regardless of what you deem the cost to be.

From the bottom of my heart, I warn you that no matter what you do in your lifetime, if it is not what the Lord has planned for you, if it is not His perfect will for you, it will NEVER bring fulfillment to your heart.

“For I know the plans I have for you…plans for a hope and a future…”

Father I pray from the depth of my being that any young person reading this post will take it to heart. I pray that you would reveal to them in clear and certain ways what is Your good and perfect will for their lives. Lord, I pray that you would give them the strength and wisdom to follow where You lead, and protect them from the evil one who would try to steal Your best from them. I pray that you would guide them with Your righteous right hand and prosper them as they follow You in obedience. I pray that You would bring people across their path to mentor and guide and direct them to You.

I pray that they would pursue Your will and plan passionately all the days of their lives and turn not to the left hand nor to the right, Lord. Whisper in their ears, “This is the way, walk ye in it.” And grant them ears that are hearing and attentive.

 May they walk with You and serve you every day for the rest of their lives, so that one day they may hear from You, Father, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” AMEN and AMEN!

God CAN Use Me!

My appologies ahead.... The word I is used in the message many times. But, please hear my heart. It points to Him...

I am SO excited! I never cease to be amazed at what a Mighty God we serve!

I so yearn to be of service to Him!

A few months back, I felt the Lord confirm to me that He would indeed use the least of these (lil' ole me). I felt He was impressing on me that, although I am in a season of life which requires me to be almost constantly devoted to family matters, He would show me a way to serve from home.

Very shortly after our "conversation," I was asked by our pastor to be the "Prayer Ministry Coordinator." How exciting! I am able to be involved in a ministry I believe is vital. I am so humbled and awestruck that the Lord would find me useful to His Kingdom in this way.

I love to pray for others and I LOVE to hear when prayer is answered. And what better way for a homeschooling mother of 4 under 9 to be involved than to begin interceding for the needs of others in the deep quiet of sleepless nights or in the middle of the day when I'm up to my elbows in dishsoap or over a load of laundry that needs folding? I AM USEFUL!

And THEN...

I recently (through a very convaluted set of circumstances) came in contact with a gentleman from a ministry called "Deliver the Difference." They are an AMAZING group who package food for the hungry. There programs are so very far reaching it would be difficult to list them all here.

Just a few examples:

• They have food packing events, where they assemble food in packages that contain 6 servings of nutritionally complete meals. In other words, one package gives 6 people the nutrition required for an entire day! These meals are provided for those locally with need as well as in countries all over the world.
• Further, they coordinate with local restaurants and food stores to freeze leftover food and distribute it to local homeless shelters and soup kitchens.
• They also provide weekend meals to the 3,500+ homeless children in the Central Florida area. These kids wouldn't normally eat from Friday lunch until Monday, except that this group packs backpacks of 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 dinners and 2 drinks for each child to take home with them on Friday! Absolutely ASTOUNDING!

After 2 failed attempts to get there and physically help out, I explained to the man in charge that I so desparately want to be involved, but am finding it most difficult due to family circumstances. I further explained that I would love to pray for them.

Well... can I just tell you! He was so excited to tell me that just last night he and some other men were on a conference call regarding a new international program they are launching. While on the call, they began discussing that what they truly need is to pray for pray-ers! They prayed the Lord would raise up prayer warriors to pray over every aspect of their programs, the food distribution networks, the people with boots on the ground in some very dangerous places getting the food to the needy, and so forth!

I AM USEFUL!

Isn't He AWEsome?! Isn't He wonderful! Oh, I love Him so!

Love Does Not Look Away

Life lessons often come to us in the strangest of places or the strangest of ways.

I recall several years ago, I was standing at the kitchen sink up to my elbows in bubbles, when I noticed a bee trapped between the window and the curtain. After several minutes of struggle, it fell to the sill unable to fly any longer.  I remember thinking I should take it outside, hoping it would fly away and recover from its injury. But, the Lord impressed upon me, “No, I need for you to watch.”

I tried to avert my attention from the battle-weary bee back to the task at hand, but He said again, “I need for you to watch.” So I watched as he struggled.

After several minutes, I was again overwhelmed with the feeling that I should DO something. “Perhaps I should put the poor thing out of its misery?” I suggested. “No, I need for you to watch.” Again, I watched.

Over time, his movements began to slow. His intermittent times of struggle became shorter and the times of no movement became longer. My heart was breaking for this poor being on my window sill. I so desperately wanted his pain to stop and yet, I felt a higher authority staying my hand. And so, I watched, unsure why a loving God would require what I felt was an unloving response to the spectacle unfolding before me.

I felt horrified watching his final moments. I felt as though I were watching a sacred and personal moment when created prepared to meet his Creator. I felt as though I were intruding, as though I should have either some action to avoid the certain conclusion or given the bug his privacy. And yet, I was told no.

When it was finally over and the remains of the bee lay lifeless before me, I asked again, “Why, Lord? Why would you have me only watch such suffering and not DO something?!” And then came the gentlest of answers, “Because love does not look away from suffering.”

I heard very clearly and yet I did not understand.

A year or so following, a dear and sweet loving friend prepared to meet her Creator. She was delivered into His presence following her second battle with cancer.

During her battle, I had the privilege of spending a few nights by her bedside. I did not know the depth of her struggle, she hid it well. But through that time I was reminded that love does not look away.

When one shares the love of Christ with people, one must at time look suffering in the eye. In order to be the hands of our Savior in a sin sick and dying world, one must not recoil or run. One cannot comfort the hurting unless one is close.

Take and hold someone’s hand in the depth of their most frightening moments. This is what Christ the Lord does for us. “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” He promises us in His Word to be there in our darkest hour.

May we be His love to others even in the hard times.

Milestones and challenges

Several weeks ago, I was informed that my writing is neither engaging nor interesting. In fairness to the person who shared this, I did ask their opinion as they are what I hope to be, a professional writer. Over the weeks since, I have gone through moments of "giving up" and moments of "thank you for being honest so I can make efforts to improve."

It is my sincere goal to make what you are reading here interesting. I try to write about wat interests me most, which is Jesus Christ and things I learn from studying God's Word. My aim was not just another "surfacy" devotional, but real "meat." I love to learn new and deep things about our Lord and when I do, I can't wait to share it. Perhaps I am just a boring person, because what I write about is what I find interesting, and I am not sure how to make it more interesting, but I do promise to try.

Anyway, after much internal debate, I checked my stats (they tracks views to my blog) this morning and was humbled to see that my blog has hit a new milestone. It has been visited more than 1000 times (not including the people who read it by email)! This week alone it has been visited by people from The US, Australia, the UK, South Korea, Nigeria, Russia, and the Ukraine!

How very exciting! That means over 1,000 times people from all over the world have come to read what I have to share! That means that I have an opportunity to share with the world the things that excite me about God's Word!

Praise You Father for this AWEsome priviledge! Thank You for allowing me to share You with others! Lord I pray that as I move forward You will show me what YOU would have me share. May I speak (write) words that bring You praise and honor and glory.

Father, please bless each and every person who has visited this site, as well as each and every person who will visit. May each one find peace and comfort here and increasing knowledge of You, the One and Only Way to eternal Life! AMEN

A Hearing Heart

“Give Your servant an understanding mind and a hearing heart…” (1 Kings 3:9)

Each time we are called by the Lord for a duty, it is wise to consider these words of Solomon.

When Solomon became king of Israel after the death of his father, David, the Lord asked how He might bless him. Rather than request great wealth or any other self-indulgence, Solomon remained keenly aware of the weight of the responsibility at hand. He was cognizant of and concerned about his lack of required experience. He acknowledged God’s hand in his position and humbly gave a fitting estimation of his ability. He willingly acknowledged his deficiency and correctly judged his need.

Often we read commentary stating the Lord was pleased with Solomon’s choice because it was selfless, which indeed it was. However, consider also the humility of Solomon’s request. He resisted the prideful temptation to suppose that he had received his position and associated duty based upon some intrinsic personal ability. Instead, his request was born of candid self-assessment.

And so Solomon requested what he needed most in order to fulfill his mission, an understanding heart. The Hebrew word rendered “understanding” in the King James Version, may also be translated “hearing.” In order to carry out his God ordained responsibility, Solomon needed his heart to be equipped to hear God. Accordingly, the Lord granted him wisdom.

From this passage we learn that wisdom comes from a “hearing” heart intent upon listening to the counsel of God when we are called to His service. In modern vernacular we acknowledge, “God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called.”

When Solomon lost sight of this important lesson, he made decisions from his own imprudence. As long as he remained humble and listened for the Lord’s leading, he was blessed with wisdom beyond that of any other man ever. Upon considering the wisdom to be his own, rather than being a gift of the Lord, he began to make decisions which led to the downfall of the unified kingdom of Israel. He chose wives who enticed him to worship false gods and he oppressed the people.

After his death, Rehoboam rejected Godly counsel and vowed to oppress the people even more harshly than Solomon had.  The people revolted and the nation was split into the Northern and Southern kingdoms. Clearly he had not been raised in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and sought neither Him nor His wisdom.

Perhaps, Solomon realized his need for the Lord in leading the nation, yet assumed himself adequately equipped to parent. Perhaps he felt, as do many today, parenting is not nearly as important as our “God-given” missions. Perhaps, like Solomon, we should be mindful that the children we are called to raise today are the leaders of tomorrow. And, like Solomon, we must first acknowledge our great need for wisdom and ask from the Lord, “who gives liberally and upbraideth not.” Like Solomon, we must continue in humble service to the Lord, relying fully on the wisdom that comes from above, and “lean not unto your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.”

Lord, guide me today as I endeavor to serve You. Fill me with Your light and cause my heart to hear You. May I raise Your children to search for and hear You. Lord, I cry out to You like Solomon acknowledging “I am but a lad [in wisdom and experience]; I know not how to go out (begin) or come in (finish)…Give your servant an understanding mind and a hearing heart…” so I may do Your work in my home. Amen.

Martha or Mary?

In the New Testament, we are told the story of two sisters, Mary and Martha.  As recorded, the Lord came to visit and, while Martha hustled and bustled and rushed and fretted to provide her very important guest and His entourage a meal fit for The King, Mary sat at His feet and listened.

Scripture likely understates Martha’s response in asking Jesus to tell Mary to help her. I must confess that, if I were Martha, I would have first grumbled around, perhaps even pouted. I would have certainly shot a few grumpy glances her way.

But Jesus responded in love, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.”

(Luke 10:41-42)

A great many commentaries and even a women’s bible study or two have been written about being a Martha. In them we are told to take a break from the worries of this life, the busy-ness that holds us hostage, to remember the important thing is JESUS. We need to sit at His feet. We need to hear His voice above the din which threatens to overtake us. We need to focus our attention entirely on learning His commands. And, we NEED to take the time to abide in His sweet fellowship.

I get all that. Believe me. I get that.  Therein doth my heart beat.

But what if my problem isn’t being Martha, it is being Mary? I sit with dishes stacked, laundry piled, and children seeking my attention. Carpets need vacuumed. Floors need washed. Sheets need changed.  The list goes on. But, my heart is at His feet. It seems a constant struggle for me to get up from the floor at His feet to go and do the stuff of life. Man (and woman) was created and placed in the garden to tend it; we were created for work. (See Genesis 2:15)

Last night, I finished a bible study with a wonderful group of women. We met for 6 weeks and dug into His Word, studying the Psalms of Ascent. Ah, it was marvelous! He is SO good and His Word so rich! Yet, scarcely 12 hours later I am champing at the bit to begin another. The only question is which one? There are so many great ones! I am profoundly excited to begin our next quest. I cannot wait to begin anew, to dig my fingers into the deep rich soil and draw out the magnificent gems of insight which undoubtedly wait to be discovered, to draw close to Him and listen intently as He whispers His Truth, to dwell in splendid fellowship with my King, my Savior, my Lord, and my Friend. Ahhh, selah.

But alas, duty calls…

Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow

With the passing of the month of October (It's FINALLY over!), it is time now to look ahead to the blessed month of November and the priceless possession it holds. THANKSGIVING!

Often when I am feeling a bit down, I will ask the Lord to speak to me in ways I can hear Him clearly. Occasionally, I will ask Him to bless me through my mailbox. Inevitably, I will receive a note from someone or some other such reminder that I have worth and value to someone. Truly a blessing.

I have been eagerly awaiting my mailbox blessing, but I didn't recognize it immediately this time. I found in the box a package sent to (of all people) my mother who has been deceased for more than 6 years.  Aggravated that this company did not have the good sense to purchase updated mailing lists, I opened it to get the information to call and politely inform them of their error and "please take her off your list." 

Upon opening said package, I realized it was a spiritual magazine, and knowing my mother had some rather eclectic spiritual experiences during her walk on earth, I was expecting something "New Agey" and considered simply tossing it. Prompted by the Spirit, I opened it nonetheless. 

The subject of each article was being thankful for blessings. Once again, my mind asked the question, "Why do so many non-believers celebrate Thanks-Giving?" Acknowledging that our blessings come from outside of ourselves to the degree we feel we must GIVE THANKS to someone else should provoke one to question, "To WHOM am I giving thanks?" Should it not?

"Praise GOD from Whom all blessings flow..." 

I did read the entire magazine, and it was delightful.

So often we are caught up in daily pursuits; rushing to get this or that thing done. Then, at least for wives and mothers, doing the same thing all over again. Laundry by the mounds, dishes by the sinkful. It is so easy to get lost in the tedium. How refreshing to remember to step back and be thankful...

• The dirty dishes mean we at today (many times). Thank You Lord for our daily bread.
• The laundry means we all had clothes to wear. Thank You Lord for providing raiment.
• That it is bountiful means we have a wonderful little family (or is 4 babies and 2 adults "little"). Thank You Lord for each life you have breathed into our family.
• The clothes for two adults means that our marriage is still holding on. Thank You Lord for my husband who loves his family so.
• The work clothes in the laundry means my husband still has a job. Thank You Lord for employment in this harsh economy.
• The dirt on the kids clothes means they have been outside playing hard. Thank You Lord for our beautiful property and gorgeous weather. Thank You that our children are healthy and happy and love to play together.
• The piles of election propaganda ready for the burn pile tells me I need to vote. Thank You Lord that I live in country where I am free to vote. Thank You Lord that You alone are sovereign and in control of the outcome. Thank You that I can rest in the knowledge that, anxious as I may feel, I need not worry, because Your Word assures me of the final outcome.
• Thank You Lord for Your Word. Thank You I live in a country where I am free to have and to read Your Word.
• Thank You Lord for great Bible Studies.
• Thank You Lord for wonderful women of God with whom to do Bible Studies.
• And... (the list goes on)
• Thank You Lord for blessing my mailbox (again).
• Thank You Lord for magazines sent to recipients long since deceased.

Halloween Update

I would just like to take a moment to let you know how the Lord has been answering prayer.  As you recall, if you read my previous posts regarding Christians celebrating Halloween, I have been praying for several years for the Lord to give me peace regarding this practice.  I also requested your prayers as I grumble through yet another October.

Well, the Lord has done great things - again.

While, I still do not believe it is right for Christians to celebrate satan's holiday, and will never personally participate, I have been convicted by scriptures such as it is not right to judge another man's servant, and if it is not sin to them then it is not sin in God's eyes, and so forth.

The bottom line is this: though it grieves me to my soul knowing what that day is really all about and that generally speaking it appears most Christians don't care that their behavior is causing our God to be mocked, it is between them and God. They will stand accountable before Him and Him alone. Not them and Him and me. How dare I?

If God has a problem with Christians celebrating in this way, He is big enough to let them know. The Holy Spirit is certainly capable of convicting of sin, He does not need my help.

If asked, I will continue to share my feelings on the matter. However, I am more aware now that when speaking with others about it, I get more and more passionate and vehement about my position. Therefore, as Emily Post suggests, it is more polite to decline to speak of things about which we are passionate. We tend to get carried away and inadvertantly hurt others in the process.

So, unless asked, I will refrain from speaking and thereby keep this peace the Lord has granted. I know this will only be possible with His help. Therefore, my new prayer will be that no one will ask. ;)