Continuing our ‘Names of God’ study, we look to Genesis 17:1, where we see God identifying Himself to Abram, “I am God Almighty, walk before Me and be blameless.” God (El) Almighty (Shaddai) a divine title used only 8 times in the O.T. and ‘Almighty’ used 40 times, 31 of those in Job alone (When Job questions God’s purposes, God displays His wisdom & power, “Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him?” 40:2, DUDE!). Each time a new name of God appears we are to take notice, it reveals His nature, character, and majesty. In the Septuagint (Greek translation of the Bible) it translates ‘Shaddai’ as ‘all powerful’ and according to rabbinic teaching, it is a compound word ‘sha’ (who) and ‘dai’ (enough) One Who is enough … All-Sufficient One. Many scholars deem the ‘power’ in which God is and operates is ‘beyond’ in the sense as ‘overpower’ thus the title ‘Almighty.’
Interesting point, in the same chapter that God introduces Himself as God Almighty, (‘All-Powerful Sufficient One’) God changes Abram’s name to Abraham (‘father of many’) and Sarai to Sarah (‘woman of nobility’). New character quality-name introductions all around. Peter declares this of us, that we too have a character quality-name change, when he said, you who believe, (and as Paul says, “you who were once far off, have been brought near through the blood of Christ.” – Eph. 2:13) you who through adoptive grace “are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession.” (1 Peter 2:9*) God’s gracious great power through Jesus! We are HIS!
THAT is our God! Over… Beyond… ENOUGH!
God Almighty!
In Him, DeDe (“Let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love & good deeds.” – Hebrews 10:24)
* Peter is making reference to God’s words: “Now if you obey Me fully and keep My covenant, then out of all nations you will be My treasured possession. Although the whole earth is Mine, you will be for Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” (Exodus 19:5-6)
This week we are looking at the first mention of the name of God, ‘Elohim’ (“In the beginning God…” Genesis 1:1) used well over 2,500 times from Genesis to Malachi (think God is trying to tell us something!) containing the idea of God’s creative power, His authority, and sovereignty.
Elijah and the bad king Ahab of Israel (“Ahab did more evil in the sight of the Lord than any of those before him.”- 1 Kings 16:30) are at the showdown on Mount Carmel. Ahab became a Baal worshiper, so…Elijah requests all the people of the region and the 450 false prophets of Baal to come and let’s get this decided right now! ‘Show me what ya got’, let’s see whose god can bring down fire – the winner – is THE God! The Baal folks prepared their bull sacrifice and began their calling out, yet funny how nothing happens, Elijah offers, “Perhaps you should yell louder” – they do. From morning until evening the fiasco continued… still no response. There is no movement or sound from the heavens, not even a slight flutter of a ravens wing (See 1 Kings 17:6). Elijah steps up (dramatic drum roll) he took 12 stones, representing the 12 tribes of Israel, creating an altar, he arranged the wood and the sacrificed bull. He didn’t stop there, he dug a large trench around the altar and had 4 large jars of water poured on the offering and the wood, again and again – 3 times the water was poured, filling even the trench. Elijah prayed…
“O LORD, answer me! Answer me so these people will know that You, O LORD, are God [Elohim] and that You have brought them back to Yourself.” Immediately the fire of the LORD flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. It even licked up all the water in the trench! And when all the people saw it, they fell face down on the ground and cried out, “The LORD—He is God! Yes, the LORD is God!” (1 Kings 18:37-39, NLT)
Here’s the totally cool part… as Elijah steps onto the pages of scripture, he speaks the word of the Lord that there would be no rain – for years (1 Kings 17:1). ‘Baal’ was considered the god of rain and what do you know, there was a drought in the land, so much for a ‘reigning Baal’ (HA!) What does Elijah do as he stands with his offering? With the lack of water, valuable as it is, he drenches the altar with it. I love it! Let me pour your god on here too and let THE God burn’m up! After this, the 450 false prophets were destroyed at Elijah’s command, and guess what? Elijah again prayed… it rained! God not only opened the heavens with fire, but He did what the false god could not! Nothing and no one comes against God’s word!
The Lord doesn’t just show up to show off, He-is-God! Full of creative power, and sovereign authority, Elohim.
Can I get a hardy “Go God!”
In Him, DeDe (“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love & good deeds.” – Hebrews 10:24)
I have the wonderful privilege of teaching our women’s Bible Study at church and stepping into this holiday season (and our building expansion is in full swing) we are doing Bible study HERE (in cyberland) for the next few weeks. It is good God stuff, and excellent for all. We are looking at the Names of God.
The very 1st appearance of God’s name “In the beginning God...” (Gen. 1:1) in the Hebrew is ‘Elohim’ (El-o-HEEM). It contains the idea of God’s creative power, His authority, and sovereignty. It is used well over 2,500 times from Genesis to Malachi, occurring 32 times in the first chapter alone. Elohim is the plural form of ‘El’ which means mighty or strong. Being in the plural form, Elohim is always used as a singular designation for God and does not imply polytheism, (worship of many gods, as was the custom of surrounding nations). God was very direct when telling Moses to tell the Israelites, “Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God [Elohim], the LORD is one.” (Deut. 6:4) Remember at creation, day 6 – “God [Elohim] said, “Let US make man in OUR image…” (1:26, emphasis mine). Elohim reveals the triune nature of God, the ‘ontological equality’ (throw those words out at Thanksgiving dinner) of the Trinity. God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit – all are equal in value but different in function. The Father planned redemption, Jesus accomplished it and Holy Spirit applies it. We actually see all three of the Trinity at the same time in the baptism of Jesus found in Matthew 3:13-17.
King David writes, “Create in me a clean heart, O God[Elohim]and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10) David understands this ‘create.’ He knows that what he wants in his heart can ONLY be placed there by his God. Create, ‘bara’ is the Hebrew verb used exclusively of God. Sovereignty bringing into existence what wasn’t and now is – creating out of nothing. ‘Bara’ does not work like that of a recipe, taking ingredients and placing them together to form something, like that of a cake. It is new materials, new results. David knew he didn’t have within himself what it took to have a clean, a pure heart. May we too cry out “CREATE! O God!” Bring stuff into our heart, good God stuff, YOUR stuff, give us qualities exclusively of YOU! Elohim, our creative and sovereign God.
Going forward we will look at the names of God, noting that these different names highlight the many amazing aspects of His character.
In Him, DeDe (“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love & good deeds.” – Hebrews 10:24)
Recently at Bible Study, as the gals were coming in, I handed them each a colored card with a number on it. The only instruction given was “find the number that corresponds and that will be your seat for tonight.” Feeling like a Flight Attendant, I did so with a smile, yet refrained from the urge to nod and quote the “B-bye, B-bye”. There were a few not so excited being told where to sit, – BUT they were in church and I saw some ‘attitude checks’ going on (kinda fun to watch). Yes, I was stretching them beyond their comfort zone. As I opened, I assured them, “You are OKAY! …Really!” We, women, are creatures of routine and sitting where it isn’t familiar, not next to your very best friend or a family member is only a small, SMALL taste of what the Jewish Christians were experiencing in the book of Hebrews.
The cards I handed them did not ‘match’ the color of the cards on the tables, I watched as a couple gals went looking for the ‘color’ rather than the ‘number’ on the card. I knew a few would and wanted them slightly confused, I used this as an example that the Jewish Christians had to figure out a few things on their own, they had to step into the new and find God truly was there. Things were different (I moved some furniture around) they, along with the early Jewish Christians had to trust that this ‘NEW’ was a good thing.
We have been looking at the Pastor of Hebrews teaching that regardless of tradition, and regardless of what your lifestyle represented; Jesus is much more excellent. His covenant and promises – BETTER. He as High Priest and His blood sacrifice – greater and more perfect and once and for all! Can I get a hardy “Go God!” THIS ran the Jewish Pastor’s fingernails across the Torah blackboard; it hit a nerve, contrary to all they had been taught. Yes, different. They (and our women) were learning God points but doesn’t always give us ALLLLL the details, sometimes we have to improvise, be flexible and just trust and obey.
Perhaps God is calling us to something new, a lil unfamiliar and unknown, if it is of God, it is good. May we declare like King David in response to God’s amazing protective and promising character, “O Sovereign LORD, You are God! Your words are trustworthy, and You have promised these good things to Your servant.” (2 Samuel 7:28 NIV)
Flexible, trusting and obeying.
P.S. You never know what you may encounter at Bible Study. Next week, the Book of Revelation — totally kidding! (I so love my assignment!)
In Him, DeDe (“Let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love & good deeds.” – Hebrews 10:24)
I believe when Paul says, “I am persuaded…” in Romans 8:38, he wasn’t speaking from his well-educated theological understanding, he spoke from deep-down-personal-gut assurance. Persuaded, we see this also in the life of David. Remember in 1 Samuel 24 when David and his men were hiding in a cave when in walks Saul (um…to relieve himself). David was encouraged by his men to take the opportunity and kill Saul and he’d finally be king. However, David didn’t. He did cut off a corner of Saul’s robe, but even in doing this David was troubled in heart. When Saul was leaving the area, David went out and called to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him. David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground…” (v8) In that moment David’s heart was ‘persuaded’ (conviction is not only pointing at the wrong but also points to the RIGHT) his heart was won over by the amazing certainty of God. He didn’t HAVE to kill Saul. Who was he to push his hand, to attempt to push God’s. God’s purposed plan. Persuaded. His-timing-is-perfect!
THIS is what Paul is saying, he like David is won over by the amazing certainty of God, that “Neither death nor life, angels or demons, present or future or any powers high or low, indeed nothing in all creation can or will be able to separate us from God’s love – His willful – active good on our behalf whether we deserve it or desire it! (Romans 8:38-39, paraphrased) Persuaded. God-loves-us!
James and Jude, two brothers of Jesus, John gives the account of the brothers trying to push Jesus out there for popularity sake and a personal jab of sorts, “You can’t become famous if You hide like this! If You can do such wonderful things, show Yourself to the world!” (7:4 NLT) In the same pen stroke, “For even His brothers didn’t believe in Him.” Yet, years later, both brothers open their letters with “a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ…” What was it that took them from unbelief to full surrender to Who Jesus is? Persuaded. He-is-Lord!
Peter, don’t you love it that God didn’t withhold the rambunctious side of His servants. The guy was here – there – and saying just about anything at any given time. One day after fishing all night Jesus says, “…go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish…” Now nearly noon, Peter is skeptical, however, he replies, “But if You say so, I will…” He did and the catch was tremendous. (Read his story in Luke 5) Trusting Jesus with the lifestyle of obedience. Persuaded. “I-will!”
I am challenged by this, what areas of my life is there hesitancy, where do I stop short in my confidence in God. I ask of you the reader the same of myself: What WILL it take for us to be persuaded, being won over by the amazing certainty of God? Knowing with a deep-down-personal-gut assurance that His timing is perfect, He loves us, He is Lord and live the “I will” lifestyle of obedience. Whatever expectations we might have, whatever prerequisites we may have mentally listed, let’s lay’m down, giving full surrender to Who Jesus is.
Persuaded.
In Him, DeDe (“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love & good deeds.” – Hebrews 10:24)
Recently I had the opportunity to teach a discipleship class on Bible translations and offer a brief overview of how to study the bible. I wanted to come out of the gate with a listed fist full of the most excellent and current resources Amazon can provide! But instead, I opened with “S-L-O-WDOWN!” We are a ‘grab & go’ society! We fly into circumstances and jet out just as fast; we do the same with our devotions and study time. We seem more concerned with that glorious moment of ‘Check’ in our daily reading box that we miss understanding what we’ve read. We close the Book, put our half-drunk now cold coffee on the counter and head out into our day. If we think of it – there is a quick over the shoulder glance with a rushed “Thanks Lord…”
Slow down. The Bible is a Spiritual book, not to be all-mystic and such, but it is, spiritual. Paul says it is “God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness…”’ (2 Timothy 3:16) Folks, it’s our manual. As the Pastor of Hebrews declares it is “living and active… it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) Why rush the divine process.
Slow down, pray before you even open The Book, and invite the Author to walk you through it. Pray while you’re reading, “Show me Lord, speak, teach, grace my heart to hear and heed…” In doing so, we not only read the Word, but we allow the Word to read us! God designed His holy writ to be interactive. As we close that wonderful Book, pray… ask Holy Spirit to take the words you just read and speak them to you throughout the day.
Slowing down.
In Him, DeDe (“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love & good deeds.” – Hebrews 10:24)
I was recently reading an article on our secret mindset of God. You know, those things we wouldn’t dare share or even write in code in our journal. I was taken back to a mindset, back to years ago. Confession is good, I pray this encourages someone.
I lived in the shadows of disappointed for about 5 years, 5-solid-anguishing-years. Survival was my number one goal, and to be very frank, getting through the day without eye contact was hefted to the top of my priority list. I was in full-time ministry, loved God, served my church and sat on the other side of Starbucks tables sincerely encouraging other women in their God journey. But then life rolled in, thick dark discouraging, disappointing clouds filling each corner of my horizon. In my steps to salvage my marriage, a marriage that was never happy, I stood in front of 40+ women and after 5 years of teaching, I told them I was stepping down. Within the year, the marriage failed, and soon my ex-husband was remarried. I was now working full-time outside the home in a job I HATED, just to pay the bills and take care of my two sons, who at the time were 9 & 15.
I clung to the one-liners, “Draw near to Him so He can draw near to you …Press in to worship and He’ll meet you there … God won’t give you more than you can handle.” All true, but at the time I didn’t see them flooding my reality. I found that following stepping down from ministry, that women treated me differently, they distanced themselves, there were no invites for coffee, lunch or even chat time on the phone. I felt alone. It was painful. One gal had the arrogant nerve to come up to me in church (Yes, I was still attending church, HOPING it was my lifeline) she stepped forward, with an accusing tone, and no love of God in her, and proceeded to tell me she could not figure out how “I” could let all this happen, she thought I was a ‘woman of God…’ etc… (tears) … etc. Although she didn’t know my home life or the history of my story, her voice rattled around in my head and heart, those words slid down and found their place among my own self-tagging of ‘worthless’. We know that the enemy of our soul will use any and all circumstances to break us and I … I was allowing it. I was broken. In that dark time, in my pain and confusion, I put my calling, my Bible, and any relationship I thought I had left with God aside, not disowning, just – aside. And with slumped shoulders and down casted eyes, I made incredibly STUPID mistakes.
But! I LOVE the ‘But…’ of God, someone told me in that dark season, that yes, I was broken, but was I broken over what breaks God’s heart? I was beyond broken over the unmet expectations that lay scattered all over the floor. I was torn in two with what happened to my family. I was shredded with the accusing and hurtful words of others. Although all valid, it wasn’t until I realized I needed to be broken over my ‘response’. Life is tough, life is hard, I just assumed because I was God’s, I was His, that what Paul wrote, stood as a monument I bowed to, ‘that ALLLLLL would work out for good’. MY definition of good! The restoration process didn’t start until I genuinely (keyword – genuinely) understood God’s love. ‘I’ was defining God’s love by how ‘I’ thought HE should act, to me and for me.
Now nearly 10 years later… I am no longer falling for or allowing the enemy’s breaking tactics, he attempted to destroy me and destroy what I was going to speak into others for God’s glory. God loves me! He loved me then, He loves me now. I am a daughter of the Most-High God, I walk in my calling and my Bible is right here and read – devoured daily! My head is up, my eyes are clear and looking – I am seriously accountable to 5 Godly women. I repented for my response to ‘life’ – how I assumed I should get special treatment, that somehow I was exempt from the ick, the pain, and disappointments. That my response took me in a tailspin of despair and yes, sin. I hurt God with my response. I put it all out there on God’s table, honestly and transparently. One by one, us together, me and the God that loves me, we took things off the table and He put them away, far away. God’s grace-filled filing system, ‘away, far away.’ God restored me (not ME doing it) He re-created me. (See David’s honest words in Psalm 51) I am married to an amazing Godly man, now have a granddaughter, and I’m teaching again, teaching with passion, teaching from the platform that GOD LOVES ME! And when those ugly accusations of worthless begin to resurface, I think of the woman at Jesus’ feet, (and have this posted on my bookshelf), when others began to spout off, Jesus tells them, “I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven – for she loved much.” (Luke 7:47) And we all know we can only love, ‘because He loved us first!’ (1 John 4:19)
Disappointment and even bitterness can hold us captive, a captivity that will lead us in the wrong direction. The only way out is our God! It took me years to realize I needed to put it out there, honestly – genuinely and without attempting to help God with a detailed outlined expectation, like we (especially women) obsessively enjoy. I surrendered, to His love, to His grace. As a friend recently shared “God didn’t cause it, but He will use it!” I can honestly say, God is using it ALL – I am a better version of the God in me because of it! God’s working out is not how we would do it, He does it RIGHT! (Please lean in ) “And it is good!“
How is your secret mindset of God?
In Him, DeDe (“Let us consider how we may spur one another towards love & good deeds.” – Hebrews 10:24)
Music is an amazing tool God uses: This was my progressive worship journey… when I could not raise my head, when my hands too heavy (Keep singing folks! Keep singing)
When in the midst of God restoring my heart: I sang this over & over
Now, now… as I stand in front of others teaching them about our God: “Sing with me How great is our God…”
Yesterday at church during worship, there was a pause, pause of silence in-between songs. I LOVED it! It wasn’t long, only about 8 seconds, it was extremely noticeable, for it was a holy pause of reverence. The silent pause set the tone for the rest of worship. How often do we pause? We are a run-full-force-forward society that taking pause seems awkward. As I sit to review my teaching notes for an upcoming session of Inductive Bible Study in our discipleship class, I pause. A preparative pause. I take my cue from Ezra. WHO?
Ezra was a scribe and a direct descendant of Aaron of the Old Testament; he was full of passion and zeal for God and God’s word. He along with Nehemiah was instrumental in creating an environment for revival among the Israelites and rebuilding the Temple. One verse that jumps out defines the sincere outcome, “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.” (7:10 NKJV, emphasis mine) Ezra prepared his heart. Prepared his heart to seek, to do, and to teach. In the Hebrew, the imagery is not just merely putting God’s word in front of him, Ezra put himself in front of the Word. Yes, there is a difference.
We need to purposely take pause, creating ‘prior moments’ and position our heart, mind, and understanding. How often do we grab a mug of coffee, slide into our comfortable chair and open the Bible and begin reading? What might be the outcome if we were to pause before opening the Book? Before reaching for our pencil and journal? A quick 8-second pause of reverence might make noticeable difference, setting the tone for what came next. Revival and rebuilding! Perhaps a sincere prayer of “Father show me, teach me, speak to me.”
May we like Ezra purpose with prior moments and prepare our heart.
* We can read Ezra’s story in the short book with his name and the sequel, Nehemiah.
In Him, DeDe (“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love & good deeds.” – Hebrews 10:24)
There is a story of a farmer that had an icehouse, during the winter he and his workers would cut ice blocks from the nearby pond, and then place them on a bed of sawdust in the icehouse, and cover the ice blocks with more sawdust. At one point, the farmer noticed he lost his beloved pocket watch in all his work. He and his workers went in frantically raking through the sawdust to find the watch, but to no avail, it wasn’t found. The farmer’s son, about age 10, heard of the situation and at noontime, while the workers were on break, he slipped into the icehouse, and after a lil time, he came out with the watch in hand, giving it to his father. The farmer was so excited; he asked, “HOW did you found it!” The boy answered, “I laid down in the sawdust, laying there quietly, I just listened.”
What a beautiful example of purposeful positioning with EXPECTATION! King David penned, “In the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation.” (Psalm 5:3b) David didn’t sit there filling the conversation, he leaned in – leaned forward in eagerness, expecting God’s response! He knew if he were quiet enough, he would hear Him. How often do we too go in looking for God, noisily, raking around, turning things over? Perhaps if we were quiet, so very quiet and still, we’d hear Him.
Laying in the sawdust, leaning in – leaning forward in eagerness.
In Him, DeDe (“Let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love & good deeds.” – Hebrews 10:24)
“Backup.” For the past week or two every time I opened my laptop I would see the now bent and ruffled orange sticky note that simply read, “Backup.” I put it there to remind me. Each time I sat down to study or read emails or peruse through Facebook, that sticky note was glanced at, unheeded and then quickly forgotten. Although I had set the reminder there for me to take action, it soon became familiar. So familiar that I really didn’t give it much notice anymore.
As I took the sticky note off yesterday (AFTER I finally backed up the computer) I felt Holy Spirit nudge me that at times I treat others the same, (OUCH!) and Him as well (DOUBLE, “Ouch!”) We do that, don’t we? We take less notice or tend to overlook what is right in front of us because it’s something we always see. Oh, we take for granted the familiar! Paul writes to the folks in Galatia, “Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone…” (Galatians 6:10 NLT) How can we do good when we don’t see them – we are looking over their heads at something or someone else? (Well, we shot that opportunity right out of the sky).
May we SEE and heed the sticky notes of God, right in front of us. Our family, friends, and the pile of stuff we are tripping over.
Right in front of us.
In Him, DeDe (“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love & good deeds.” – Hebrews 10:24)
It’s here, THAT season, it’s already in stores. Halloween. Stores have freshly stocked shelves with 30% off ticketed items by the rows. Tons of stuff! Okay, I am not fully certain of the weighted measurements, but there’s lots of ‘blackness.’ Black cats, witch hats, spiders, eerie tombstones and yes, the ever dreaded skulls. I LOVE the fall, it is my favorite season, the colors are so rich, I decorate seasonally my home with the warm orange, burgundy and brown tones, (my mantle pictured above) but Halloween does not roll this gals socks.
I am often asked why I have chosen not to celebrate Halloween, why I don’t find it ‘all in fun.’ What is fun about it – the basic theme is of fear, death, and witchcraft, um… no, not for me. Before I get all kinds of comments, emails, texts, and smoke signals, please let me explain, why (for me) I chose not to. My family used to do the Halloween thing when I was little, sure I wore the thin fabric climb in costumes with the sweaty plastic masks. But, after I came to understand and was adopted as a daughter of the Most High God, learning of His Majesty and His glorious light, I do not participate in the day of darkness. Yes, you would say darkness and light struggle 365 days a year, why be bothered by one day, one-singled-out-day. A day I can forgo.
For the life of me, I cannot understand WHY someone would voluntarily, even cheerfully submit themselves to haunted houses and ghost hunts. All in fun? No, not for this gal. I have seen and experienced too much from the dark side to play with it like a child’s toy or pretend in dress up. While the ‘all in fun’ is masked with candy, parties, costumes, and laughter, in the background when no one seems to notice, there are cultic activities taking place. The number of self-identified witches in the U.S. is doubling every 2 years, those deeply into the occult take this holiday very seriously and yes, the dark forces they are dealing with are very real! (* See the history of Halloween below)
Paul wrote, “Hate evil and cling to what is good.” (Romans 12:9) Is it God-honoring if we are clinging to good, while we cheerfully allow evil to run rampant around our feet? That running around could soon become a snare. Sadly, there are many who ‘all in fun’ participate in seemingly innocent activities, when ‘our great enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.’ (1 Peter 5:8) We need to remember darkness ALWAYS has an agenda! Always. It will come again and again for any crack, any opportunity to subtly peek in with the ugly and demonic. If not addressed, it will crawl in, slither about quietly. If we think it will stand up in the middle of the room and wave “Here I am!” then we are only fooling ourselves.
According to Wiccans, Halloween is the time when the veil between the living and the dead is considered to be the thinnest, they celebrate and take advantage of such status. And by the way, (standing a lil taller on my soapbox) there is no such thing as a ‘Good Witch’ regardless of how Hallmark wants to title it. Adding one more (not in detail) note. For satanists, Halloween is one of the most important celebrations of the year, it is documented in their ‘book’ that after one’s own birthday and another icky day, Halloween is most important. I chose not to give detail on this subject, satan (lil ‘s’) is not worthy of my time or to have his name capitalized or in print.
Gently climbing down off my soapbox (as not to hurt myself) and dragging it back to the corner. You are loved.
In Him, DeDe (“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love & good deeds.” – Hebrews 10:24)
*History of Halloween: “Halloween’s customs are thought to have been influenced and dated back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31 they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. To commemorate the event, Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities, this done in attempts to appease them. During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins, and attempted to tell each other’s fortunes.” [History.com] In addition, other articles speak of folklore that costumes were worn so as to disguise the living, so the dead returning could not identify them. Also, the bonfires were built with the intent to keep the souls of the dead from falling to earth.
This morning, on my drive to take my son to work, while his ‘67 Mustang looks GREAT, nicely parked waiting for a new engine, he is successfully deposited and I sit quietly on my way back home. There is no music, no radio, and no deep-toned voice reading to me the book of Hebrews. While the car was quiet, I too sensed a ‘quieting’ coming over me. As the quiet caught my attention, I began to thank the Lord – I KNEW it was Him. To be very frank, my mind is usually firing in multiple directions. (SQUIRREL!) But not today. Quiet. There was Presence. There was peace. It is amazing how God knows what and when we need to experience Him – His acceptance, comforting, renewing, and refreshing. This verse came to mind:
“The LORD your God is with you,
He is mighty to save;
He will take great delight in you;
He will quiet you with His love;
He will rejoice over you with singing.”
– Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV, emphasis mine)
To put this verse in context, in Zephaniah’s day, the Lord had brought judgment for the sins of the people, He speaks of lifting His hand on those who come humbly and trust in the name of the Lord, now He is rejoicing and He is restoring. He is now comforting, renewing, and refreshing. You can almost hear the tender whisper: “He will quiet you with His love.” How many of us can use some renewing – some quieting? Perhaps we need to stop trying to fill the quiet, turn the noise off. Perhaps the quiet is our God trying to get our attention. His Presence, His peace. Do whatever it takes to not miss it, miss Him.
Thank you, Lord, for the pause of YOU! For being a ‘with you’ God, and because You love us, You quiet us.
Happy Friday.
In Him, DeDe (“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love & good deeds.” – Hebrews 10:24)
Desert, the short definition is ‘a barren region of landscape.’ How is our landscape, metaphorically and spiritually speaking? Are we parched, drying up and quite weary from trekking through the rugged terrain? Recently on one of my many rabbit trails, I was taken to Luke chapter 4. Here Jesus is lead by the Spirit out into the desert place. The desert place. He encounters the devil, where he tempts the Divine with some pretty cool stuff (not that they were his to give mind you) Jesus’ response, ‘It is written…” In these 3 responses, Jesus reaches back and quotes Moses from Deuteronomy, (6:13,16 & 8:3). “Man does not live on bread alone… worship the Lord your God and serve Him only … do not put the Lord your God to the test.” Here’s the cool part, this whole ‘God talks – man receives’ – where did it happen as Moses speaks? In the desert place.
Seeing a pattern? Oh, we don’t have to go out running towards the dryest region we can find to hear God, and be strong, but there is a significant desert purpose! The desert offers a lack of distractions. (Use it!) It offers true, genuine desperate need for survival. (Long for it. Long for HIM!) That desert is designed. (Accept it!) It is instruction time, just before time. Remember Moses and the Israelites, Deuteronomy was just before; Moses last words just before he dies and just before Joshua takes them into the Promised Land. Instruction time – just before. (Listen for it!)
Be encouraged folks, there IS a purpose, listen for the words of instruction like Moses, and declare the word like Jesus.
The desert place.
In Him, DeDe (“Let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love & good deeds.” – Hebrews 10:24)
Waiting. Isn’t it HOARDS of fun? Yes, that is a rhetorical – sarcastic question. Nothing floats my boat, rolls my socks, more than … waiting. I am kidding, of course, whether it be in a checkout stand, gas line, or in a season of life, I am not a good wait-er.
Recently studying in Genesis, (LOVE that book, I always seem to be in Genesis) I was again reminded of just how ‘human’ the characters are. Noah. Quickly setting the scene: God is grieved over mans ‘ickiness‘. He’s starting over. He instructs Noah to build the first Titanic; however, this one IS unsinkable. Noah obeys beyond the critical looks, and behind his back snickers. He builds the ark and gathers the animals. Loading up, God shuts the door and it begins to rain.
Forty days it rains. (Genesis 8) FINALLY, the rain stops. Noah sends out the raven, then the dove, they both return because there is no place to land yet. Verse 10 “He WAITED seven more days …” (emphasis mine) Noah waited. In the Hebrew, this waiting is a painful waiting, as to wring the hands, not a mere sitting on a crate playing cards passing the time. It refers to either pain in the physical sense or in the emotional. Noah and his family in the ark, God preserves them, now he (they) … wait. Perhaps Noah’s thought bend towards, had God forgotten him? Will he forever spend the rest of his life in a stinky ship full of animals? “How many rounds of ‘Row row row your boat’ do they HAVE to sing, those silly sons!” I must mention, Mrs. Noah, what a trooper, not one mention of complaining – in contrast to the dusty folks in the wilderness. Think about it, she’s on a voyage of no destination, no itinerary, with no time of arrival determined, with plenty of animals and animal stuff. No complaints.
BUT, the story, the waiting does NOT stop there. Noah sent out the dove AGAIN, that evening the dove returned with an olive branch, “Then Noah knew that the water had receded from the earth. He waited seven more days and sent the dove out again, but THIS TIME it did not return to him.” (8:11-12)
Noah waited and waited some more. We read that and think … ‘the guy is getting good at waiting.’ YET, his waiting has changed, the narrative uses a completely different word for wait. First he ‘hil’ (Hebrew) ‘painful waiting’, now after the olive branch, he sends the dove out with hope, ‘yahal’ (Hebrew) a confident expectation in his wait. His pain has turned to hope. The results of his hope … “but this time it did not return to him,” knowing the dove had landed happily in an olive tree somewhere. I LOVE the ‘this time’ of waiting, the ‘this time’ of God.
Hope – it will carry us a long way, as long as it doesn’t carry us in the wrong direction. “Hope is NOT a pacifying wish of the imagination which drowns out troubles….” * Folks, whether we are in a season of painfully waiting, or our waiting is full of hope, don’t jump ship yet! Keep sending those doves, perhaps God is in the ‘more.’ Take heart, God is just preparing us a dry place, His timing … perfect. Look for those olive branches, they will be there. Our ‘this time’ … is coming!
In Him, DeDe (“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love & good deeds.” –Hebrews 10:24)
* Quote from the Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (LOVE those geeky books!)
Jesus, the disciples, and the crowd were leaving Jericho. A blind beggar named Bart (Bartimaeus) was sitting beside the road. When he heard that Jesus was there, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” “Dude Be quiet!” The people yelled at him. But this only got him more excited, he shouted even louder, “SON OF DAVID, HAVE MERCY ON ME!” When Jesus heard him, He stopped and said, “Tell him to come here.” So they called the blind man. “What do you want Me to do for you?” Jesus asked. The blind man said, “I want to see!” (Mark 10:46-51)
I love the quotes of Jesus, this is one of my favorite. Blind Bart, works his way to Jesus, VERY apparent he lacks the ability to see, Jesus being God … KNEW! Yet, Jesus asked, “What do you want Me to do for you?” When the people tried to hush Bart, would he quiet himself? NO, he was desperate! Bart initiated the ‘ask’, would he follow through? How often do we ask, yet not follow through for a boatload of reasons? Are we desperate enough? Jesus wants us to come to the place that we tell Him. Notice too, that when Jesus asked, Bart’s response was NOT full of excuses or explanation, “Well, when I was 10, I was in a scuffle with my brother, I fell, my head injury resulted in my blindness, actually I am sure my brother pushed me. We haven’t spoken since. I have sought help from the doctors for years, but to no avail, it did not help. I am still blind, so here I sit every day waiting…”
He simply stated, “I want to see!”
May we too, in Jesus’ presence, not shy away, don’t back down, stay desperate, get straight to the point and ask of Him.
What happen to Bart? Jesus healed him.
In Him, DeDe (“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love & good deeds.” – Hebrews 10:24)
Inspired Fountain 