Reading vs. Study

Well, hello there!  It's been nearly 18 months since my last post.  *gasp*

Well, that does not actually surprise me.  I went back and read a few of my old posts...which was kind of fun.  One thing I saw was how I described myself as very detailed, thinking through every aspect of something.  Well, that is part of what contributes to my blog apathy.  I've had several "Deep Thoughts" over the last 18 months...but actually writing them down, on a blog, in a way that doesn't seem dumb, rushed, or boring?  Those details take me a while to think through.  So....it doesn't get done.  Rest assured though.  I have a lot going on up here.

If you follow me on Facebook, you know that the annual Bible study that I attend just started up in September.  I always enjoy returning.  Not that I don't enjoy the "coming" every week...but there are certain feelings that accompany the "returning."  It's easy to take the study for granted, coming week in and week out.  You can get into a groove...and it's easy to slip into the regimented part of it and leave out the meditative part of it.  I usually have some window like that at least once during every study, and I have to snap myself out of it.  However...the "returning" part is always so refreshing.  Like drinking fresh water when you're thirsty.  Sadly, I don't always behave as though I'm spiritually thirsty.  Which is probably why I can study a passage one year....and then read it again later, and I don't even remember it!  Maybe I wasn't as thirsty that first go-around.

Well, I'm taking advantage of my current motivation and documenting some interesting things I am learning from some very familiar passages.  I LOVE it when that happens!  We are currently studying Matthew, and we just finished chapters 1 & 2.  Jesus' birth is covered in those chapters, mostly. 

Okay.  I am familiar with Jesus' birth story.  Very familiar.  I can practically quote Luke 2.  Studying it though is different.  Really studying.  Analyzing the responses and behaviors of each character.  Discerning their motive or internal conflict.  Seeing phrases that you didn't even realize were there!  So, for my benefit (so I will actually remember it later) and for yours...I will make a list of the many NEW things God showed me in the story surrounding his birth.

• Tamar.  You are probably thinking...what is a Tamar?  Actually, it's a Who.  Tamar is a woman.  The story of Tamar is not familiar to most...but she does have a part to play in Jesus' birth story...which is the familiar part, or so we thought.  We all know that Jesus descends from the line of Judah (the 4th of Jacob's sons from Genesis).  It was prophesied that the Messiah would come through his descendants (the scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until He comes to whom it belongs.  Gen 49:10).  What most people don't realize is that the "wife" that gave Judah the next son in this Messianic line (and I say wife loosely because Judah didn't actually marry her) was a Gentile, who pretended to be a prostitute in order to trick Judah into sleeping with her.  She desperately wanted to be a part of Judah's family...so she forced her way.  And Judah fell for the bait, in a moment of weakness.....actually in a season of weakness.  A long season.  And BAM!  Now Tamar, the pretend prostitute, has the distinct honor of being part of the Messianic line.  Judah had other children.  Why did God pick the child born out of a very embarrassing part of Judah's past to further the Messianic journey?  (If you want to know that, then you should attend the s-t-u-d-y where we delve into those kinds of questions).  So, what does this have to do with the study of Matthew?  Mathew chapter 1 lists the genealogy of Jesus....and there she is....in verse 3.  Tamar.  She was famous to the Jews.  So famous in fact, that Matthew included her in the list when the list usually only included the men.  So famous, that 1000 years later...when Ruth married Boaz (who was also in the Messianic line), the elders gave them a public blessing that their offspring would be like the one born to Judah by Tamar.  Ruth 4:12.  She was a Famous woman.  The Messiah was to come through her, and the elders prophesied the same would be true of Ruth (another Gentile)....and He did.  Never before when glancing through the genealogy in Matthew 1 did I ever realize such history or significance.  Hence, read vs. study.

• Magi.  Now, I have been a studier long enough to know that the Magi did not arrive to worship Jesus in the stable....contrary to the images and nativity scenes displayed at Christmas.  They arrived about 2 years later....when Jesus was a toddler....in his house.  I am assuming this is not news to you.  If it is, read Matthew 2 again.  What I didn't see before was a small phrase in 2:3.  When the Magi arrived and asked Herod (the "king" appointed by Rome to keep the Jews in line) where the New King had been born...the passage said he was disturbed...and here is the new part....and all Jerusalem with him.  Huh?  All Jerusalem?  Jerusalem was not very big.  This lends us to the conclusion that the Magi arriving was a HUGE big deal that everyone was talking about.....like the Beatles coming to town (back in the day).....or the president arriving in all his fanfare.  To.  Your.  Town.  They were wealthy, kingly looking, leaders and revered people from the East.  They brought REAL GOLD on their 2-year journey.  And not just a little box full.  Their entourage had to have been very Large to make such a showing in the town (not to mention the practical need for safety, protection, and supplies on the journey.....carrying the wealth that they were, for as long as they were).  So.....that means I need to add some wisemen to my nativity this year, because there were surely a lot of them.

• Joseph.  Well, this one is surely familiar to you.  However, there are even things about this man that I saw which were new to me.  Ok.  I'll set the scene.  Mary finds out she's having the Messiah.  She tells Joseph (we assume).  Now what?  The passage goes straight to him considering leaving her quietly rather than publicly...and then the angel visits him in a dream to explain what's going on.  Okay.  I see a lot going on right here.  Joseph had to have been Devastated.  Absolutely devastated.  Tears.  Anguish.  Confusion.  Questions.  Disbelief that he was so "wrong" about his future bride.  He loved her.  A lot.  Verse 20 says he considered this (leaving her).  I bet there is a lot going on in that word, considered.  You know how emotionally draining it is when something devastating happens in your family?  You're distracted at work....you cry when you're alone (yes, men do it too)...and sleep is your only escape from the pain.  In his "considering", he had decided to leave her (v. 19)....and in his grief-stricken sleep, and angel came to him.  And then he stayed.  I bet there were different tears after that decision.  Good ones.  In Mary's embrace.

• Chief Priests and Teachers of the Law.  They come on the scene in 2:4.  Herod asked them (ALL of them, v.4) to come tell him what the Jewish Scriptures said about the Messiah prophesies.  These were people who taught the Scriptures for a living....read them constantly....memorized them.  They KNEW them.  Inside and out.  When Herod asked them where the Messiah was supposed to be born....Bam!  They immediately quoted Micah 5:2, written hundreds of years ago.  They had to have received word of this fancy Magi entourage that arrived...and what they were looking for.  Now Herod calls them in.  Well...you don't really see them again after this.  The rest of it is between Herod and the Magi.  What does that tell me?  The chief priests were not interested in following this Bright Light that had been in the sky for 2 years...even though there were prophesies about that too that they had memorized.  Someone else even says...Hey!  We think your King has been born!  Do they follow?  Ask questions?  Get curious?  Excited even?  Nope.  They just return to their houses and prepare for the next day's sacrifice or sermon....about the very prophesies that are unfolding before them.  And they don't even see it....even when a Gentile points it out.  Blind.  Totally blind.  Indifferent to the truth.  The truth is that your world's about to be turned upside down!  Meh.  I don't believe that.  The world is filled with these people today too.....sitting in the pews next to us at church.....hearing the truth, knowing it, learning it, regurgitating it....not really believing it.  Sad.

• Nazareth vs. Bethlehem.  Joseph and Mary were from Nazareth (north of Bethlehem about 80 miles).  See Luke 2:4.  They left for Bethlehem for the census that the Caesar required.  Okay.  Already know that.  Did you realize that when the Magi visited Jesus 2 years later, that they were still in Bethlehem?  I always kind of thought that he was born in a barn, they finished the census, then went home with him.  Nope.  They stayed.  Not in the barn, though, but in the town.  Their new home was there.  Their parents had to have been back in Nazareth....because they were just teenagers, or young adults (most likely), living with their parents until marriage.  Wow.  That must have been hard.  It seems to me that God told them to stay in anticipation that the Magi would come to that town looking for him...because of the prophesy.  Otherwise, they probably would have gone back "home."  This reveals the character of Joseph and his unwavering obedience to God, despite the huge derailment of his life that being the parent of the Messiah brought to him. 

• Prophecy.  So, when Herod decides to kill all babies under 2 years old in and around Bethlehem, God tells Joseph to get outa dodge.  Does he tell him to go north 80 miles to Nazareth, back home?  No.  Was Herod's people looking for him there?  No.  So why Egypt of all places?  225 miles southwest.  225.  See 2:15.  Because it had been prophesied Out of Egypt I called my son.  Hosea 11:1.  Egypt had spiritual significance...and God orchestrated many past events to foreshadow future ones (passover, animal sacrifices, etc).  This verse (Hos 11:1) originally referred to the nation of Israel (his children) whom he called out of Egyptian slavery....an image of what would happen thousands of years later when Jesus was there....and had to be called out.  Cool.  So Egypt wasn't the only safe place around, and it sure wasn't convenient to get to.....but the prophesy......the prophesy had to be kept.  Hence, Egypt.  Second prophesy.  Nazareth.  When Joseph was told to go back to Israel....he trekked the 225 miles again with his family (and preschooler).  Back to Bethlehem.  Wait.  What?  Not Bethlehem God?  Nope.  God says it's not safe here.  Keep going.  Another 80 miles north.  Back to Nazareth.  To your family.  See 2:23.  He will be called a Nazarene.  Not a Bethlehemite...or whatever.  The prophesy.  It had to be kept.  (Food for thought.  How did God protect John the Baptist during the Herod killings?  He was the same age as Jesus.  He was from Jerusalem, 6 miles from Bethlehem.  Did the killings not go that far?  Did God similarly protect John and family?  We don't know.  Interesting.)

• Worship.  This is my favorite.  The Magi came to worship!  Intentional.  Prepared.  Eager.  Their worship wasn't singing, like we think of it.  And it wasn't just the bowing down part.  Their worship was the 2-year journey.  The gathering of supplies.  The sacrifice of their wealthy gifts.  The planning the route.  The assembling of the caravan team.  The eagerness and anticipation.  All of this was worship.  I NEVER saw that before.  As a long-time Christian, I have carried in myself a lot of self-condemnation because I never developed the habit of a daily quiet time with God.  Daily.  Alone.  Me and Him and my Bible.  I've had stints, but I always fall off.  I can get discouraged....which I have before.  Think I'm hopeless....which I have before.  But now I realize....God wants me to worship him.  With the way I treat others, the encouragement of hurting people, the sacrifice of time and money, anticipation of meeting him today and in eternity, telling someone else about him, teaching children the good news, discipling someone, loving my husband and asking forgiveness, training my children in righteousness......and spending time with Him.  He is pleased when I worship Him in these ways...and he is not condemning me because I did not worship him in a specific way yesterday.  Yes.  It is in my best interest to meet him alone.  Every Day.  But is my worship distasteful to Him because it is not in the form of a quiet time every day.  Absolutely Not!  He relishes my worship....and it is purely for his benefit that I do it (the list above).  He accepts what I give, because He knows the motive in which I give it.  This is not an excuse to not have a daily quiet time....for those of you who are passionate about that part.  But it is a release from the self-condemnation I have felt for years...that God is displeased with me.  I'm offering him what I am able to give (just like the widow), and what I am able to give grows, as I grow.  Jesus publicly praised that widow, for the 2 coins she gave.  And not because it was a percentage thing...like a math problem.  But because her heart was in it.  My heart is IN what I give.  And he is so pleased with me because of it.

Reading vs. Studying.  It's life-changing.  Praise be to God!

My Summer Challenge

Several posts ago, around last summer, I blogged about how I accepted a role in Bible Study Fellowship teaching the children.  This study lasted the whole school year and it just ended this week.  Now we have the summer off......off from BSF but not from Jesus, not from God's Word, not from spiritual growth...as our teaching leader reminded us.  I just LOVE her by the way!  I want to give a big shout out to my BSF leader.  God has called her to a mighty work and she performs it so beautifully.  The Holy Spirit works so powerfully through her and I love sitting under her teaching.  I have learned more and grown more under her than anywhere else.  Try a BSF class.  You'll never regret it! 

Okay, okay.  *climbing off of soap box*

Back to summer.  What am I going to study over the summer?  To be honest, in past summers after BSF was over I would hear the same charge, "Decide now what you are going to study/read over the summer.  Don't put God's Word on the shelf until fall!" and I would think to myself...yes you're right, and then I would inevitably study Nothing until September.  I need the structure in order to stick with something...a side note here.  You P90X people are Awesome in my mind mostly because of your diligence to work out on your own...every day!  I have to hire someone to work me out, otherwise I would always find an excuse not to do it.  Okay, the same goes with my Bible.  Sorry Jesus, but it has been so true for me.  It helps me so much to have the accountability of a study, a friend, a plan, a group....something to help me stay faithful in my walk with Jesus because otherwise the affairs of my life begin to swallow up my time, and I allow it, not really believing that I will suffer for it....but then I always do.  So, as the charge was being given to us again this year, I heard myself say the same thing in my mind I always do.  "Yes, you're right."  Then I also had the next thought that I always have after it.  "Really Julie?  Are you really going to decide on something and stick with it?  Aren't you tired?"

Well, I sat in that space as the study was coming to a close, not really purposing to choose a section of God's Word to study.  I guess thinking that my time in the Scriptures would "just happen."  Well, then one of the other leaders in the group shared in our last leaders meeting what God had laid on her heart to do over the summer.....and I was so awed by the idea of it that I haven't been able to get it off my mind ever since.  In fact, when I think about it I get more and more excited...and nervous.  Can I really do that?

She planned to memorize the Book of James. 
What?  That's right.  The whole book of James.  Memorize it.  Whoa.  I've never attempted something like that before.  It's not even crossed my mind.  James has special meaning to the ladies of our study this year because it is one of the books that we went through.  James is so practical.  There's so much there about persevering through trials and how we use our tongue.  The thought of memorizing it brings such excitement to my heart.  Talk about "hiding God's Word in my heart!"  What are the limits of how God can change me in such practical ways if I memorize such wisdom?  It's 5 chapters.  Can I do it?  We'll see because I'm going for it!  I've already started....and I've even enlisted my kids' help.  I pass my Iphone to Logan who reads along in the car as I quote it to him.  He even helps me!  "No mom.  It's not and the man, it's but the man."  You know me....have to learn it word for word. 

Well, I've already learned the first 11 verses.  Every time I get a few moments, I start repeating the verses to myself.....and it just rejuvenates me!  It makes me really think through them...understand what I'm saying.  I've already used one of the verses during a mildly frustrating moment......."the testing of your faith develops perseverance."  It was right there on the tip of my tongue too!  I love that!  Here are the verses I've learned so far, for your reference:

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:
Greetings.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.  But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position.  But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower.  For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed.  In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.

So, are you at a loss as to what to do this summer to stay in God's Word?  Do you want to memorize something with me?  I'd love to be encouraged by you!  Post a comment below and let me know.  Pick a passage that has special meaning to you, or a Psalm or Proverb...or pick a section of James and we'll learn it together!

Oh, side note again with a bit of Bible trivia......Who do you think wrote the book of James (for you avid Bible readers out there)?  Did you say James the disciple of Jesus....the "James & John" disciple?
*insert loud buzzer here*
Incorrect.  However, that is the James I have always associated this book with in my mind though.
See Acts 12:2
It is believed that John's brother James was martyred too early to have written this letter....also noting that the letter was written to the 12 tribes scattered throughout the nations, which only had just started to happen when he was martyred......and also noting that his letter addresses himself as a "servant" and not an "apostle" like the other letters written by the apostles.  So who was it?  It is believed to be Jesus' brother, converted to a believer after the resurrection.  Jude verse 1 (written by Jesus' brother Judas) also references himself as "a brother of James."  Cool huh!  Please tell me I'm not the only Bible-studier that didn't know this........is that a word?  Studier?

Well, there you have it.  A small nugget from my BSF study, a public commitment to memorize a crazy-long passage, and a challenge for you to join me.  I hope it blessed you.

Eternal Perspective

Editor's note:  It's been several months since I blogged so I logged on to refresh my memory on what I last talked about and I found this "draft" post that I wrote last October.  I barely remember writing it...isn't that weird?  Anyway, even though it sounds like I'm reading someone else's blog when I re-read this, I thought I'd go ahead and post it.  It's a little different from my other posts, which is why I guess I waited to post it the first time.  Oh well...here goes:

Okay...so now you get a chance to peer into my brain.  My unconventional brain.  I actually think about eternity a lot, but probably not in the way you are thinking.  I actually don't spend much time imagining what eternity will be like.  I know a lot of people get a lot of enjoyment wondering what life will be like after this one ends, but the practical side of me can't do that very long before it feels like a waste of my time.  I guess that's because it doesn't really matter what I imagine because it will most likely be wrong.  If you knew you could stare at a mystery forever but never figure it out, why bother with it?  Just acknowledge it's a mystery and wait for it to be "revealed" later.  Can you tell I am very left-brained?  Not many creative, artistic or curious thoughts persist long in my mind...only those that actually lead to a conclusion with real meaning.  Now that's the good stuff to meditate on!  (For this reason, I have a great appreciation for those who are creative & imaginative because my mind can't seem to get beyond the question of Why is this practical in my life?  So I feel a bit stunted in that area sometimes.)

Okay...so I've spent a whole paragraph explaining what is Not on my mind.  What is on my mind is how my life fits into the realm of eternity.  Huh?...is maybe your first thought.  What I mean is, I frequently think about how eternity is forever...right?  The Bible refers to our earthly lives as being similar to an ambassadorship.  An ambassador leaves his home to live in a foreign land for a while, but they are really a representative of their homeland.  You're whole perspective of life on this earth changes when you see it in that light.  If heaven is my eternity, and it is where I am headed after this life ends, and it is my real home, and it lasts forever-  and by forever I mean a lifetime multiplied by infinite lifetimes - then what is this lifetime supposed to be?

Ultimately, I'm just visiting here.  My purpose is to honor God in all aspects of my life and make him look bigger in a world that does not know Him.  But other than that, the events that happen in my life (or anyone's life for that matter) don't matter.  Don't get me wrong...they do matter, but they only matter in the context of how God intends to use our lives.  They are His to use...and not just for the Christians.  He created all people, so the lives belong to Him to use as He pleases.

I guess I think of it like a baseball game that God is playing, and we are the balls.  Ok...go with me here.  God is playing a "game" with the enemy (no disrespect intended here) and we are the balls in the game.  God uses some...the enemy uses some.  The score has already been foretold, so we know who wins.  God chooses to take some of the balls home with him after the game is over because of their role in the game.  But the balls are expected to do what's asked of them when it's their turn at bat...not worry about whether they will be dropped, hope they don't get smacked too many times, or complain if their usefulness was short-lived.  Be a ball and serve the player.  It's God's game anyway, not the ball's.

I guess that's where we/I get hung up.  We think this game is all about us...but we are just the ball.  From His perspective, I would think that looks pretty ridiculous.  What difference does it make if we endure some suffering or experience pain?  Well, it makes a difference in the play of the game maybe...but it shouldn't make a difference to the ball how he is used in the game.

Ok.  I'm not trying to diminish the painful effects of suffering in this life.  This life can be brutal.  But frequently I find myself remembering that my life is not about me.  The odd thing is that it feels like it is all about us because it is the only way that we know to experience Life.

Someday we will see our lives from God's perspective...and what will we see?  How will we feel about it?  Hmmmm.  Good question.  These are the things that fill my mind at times.  I hope you enjoyed your visit into my deep thoughts!  Come back next time.

Prayer for the Sick

This has been on my mind a lot lately.  So many people in my circle or near my circle have been struck with severe illness in the last couple years.  It's very sobering.  It's actually hard for me to really take in.  I have to fight against passivity because the thought of the actual burden is quite overwhelming.

Well, one of these families was in church on Sunday and had an opportunity to share with the body what their year has looked like, and also testify to God's sovereignty.  It was quite moving, heart-wrenching, and inspiring at the same time.  Afterwards, our pastor stood and said a prayer over our body...a prayer filled with Scripture, filled with humility, filled with petition, and filled with praise.  His prayer really stuck with me.  Before the end of the day, I asked him to email it to me (because I knew he had it written down).  I've meditated on it these last couple days and I want to share it with you.  If you know someone, or know of someone, who is struggling with illness but you don't know what to pray (or what to keep praying), I offer this to you as a place to start.  God's Word is living and active (Heb 4:12)...and in It there is power!

Our Most Gracious Heavenly Father, we humbly bow before you this day and say with the Psalmist:

We bless You, O our souls,
And all that is within us, bless Your holy name.
We bless You, O our souls,

And forget none of Your benefits;
Who pardon all our iniquities,

Who heal all our diseases;
Who redeem our lives from the pit,

Who crown us with lovingkindness and compassion;
Who satisfy our years with good things,

So that our youth is renewed like the eagle.

(Adapted from Psalm 103:1-5)

Indeed, Lord, we rejoice knowing You alone truly heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds (Psalm 147:3). We can proclaim with confidence these things are true:

For You formed our inward parts;

You wove us in our mothers' wombs.
We will give thanks to You, for we are

fearfully and wonderfully made;

Wonderful are Your works,

And our soul knows it very well.
Our frame was not hidden from You,

When we were made in secret,

And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
Your eyes have seen our

unformed substance;

And in Your book were all written

The days that were ordained for us,

When as yet there was not one of them.

(Adapted from Psalm 139:13-16)

And yet, Father, we groan during our pilgrimage on this earth, infected by the curse of sin and subject to sickness and pain as a result of the fall. We groan, yes, because we suffer and at times are tempted to lose heart. We ache and hurt and become downcast in our souls. We groan mostly, though, because we long for the ultimate hope we have through Jesus Christ our Saviour Who has risen from the dead conquering sin and death...a hope that will be fulfilled on that great day when we will see Him face-to-face.  While we wait, our frailty reminds us of both of our weakness this day and the reality that we will be frail no more on that day. We recall these words of the Apostle Paul and exult:

It is sown a perishable body,
it is raised an imperishable body;
it is sown in dishonor,
it is raised in glory;
it is sown in weakness,
it is raised in power; 
it is sown a natural body,
it is raised a spiritual body....
For this perishable must put on the imperishable,

and this mortal must put on immortality.

(1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 53)

And so, Father, we come before Your throne today with complete confidence in You.  You are sovereign, You are ultimately and completely trustworthy, and You are worthy of all glory and praise. We long, then, that You be glorified in the midst of the sickness afflicting many in this body. We also express a great desire, Lord, that this prayer - offered in faith - will restore those who are sick. We would be grateful if the way You choose to do that would be to heal their bodies. We know You are able to do this, either in miraculous ways without earthly intervention or by working through human means.  We submit, though, to Your ultimate purposes that are always designed to result in both our good and Your glory. We consider that word - restore - and it brings to mind Your perfect care for us as our Shepherd both now and forever:

The LORD is my shepherd,
I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.

He restores my soul;

He guides me in the paths of righteousness
for His name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I fear no evil,
for You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You have anointed my head with oil;

My cup overflows.

Surely goodness and lovingkindness
will follow me all the days of my life,

And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

(Psalm 23:1-6)

May all who are sick rest in these great truths...truths that remind us our health, our healing, our hope, indeed our very identity, are hidden safely in You, O great God. And may these great truths be a sweet balm to the souls of the sick as they press in ever closer to You, remembering this:

Therefore we do not lose heart,
but though our outer man is decaying,
yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.
For momentary, light affliction
is producing for us an eternal weight of glory
far beyond all comparison,
while we look not at the things which are seen,
but at the things which are not seen;
for the things which are seen are temporal,
but the things which are not seen are eternal.

(2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

We ask all these things of You, Heavenly Father, THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME, in the name of Jesus Christ, our great King and Saviour, Amen.

Grandparents

...Grandparents.  Today was Grandparent's Day at our children's school, Regent Preparatory.  It is such a special day.  One of my favorite of the whole year.  The children start preparing right after school starts...memorizing songs, poems, Scripture, famous speeches...preparing art and science projects.  It is  HUGE day for the school.  They put on a fantastic presentation with a blend of historical, Biblical & patriotic components, and every year I either tear up or at least get a thump in my throat.  And it is all to honor...Grandparents.  Grandparents are such a rich part of a family's history and children can learn so much from them...especially unending Love!  Not every child gets the chance to grow up with grandparents, so I am thankful for every blessed year that they are in our lives...loving on us, cheering us on, interested in our lives, and always there when you call or want to drop by.

My boys are blessed to have 3 grandparents and 2 great-grandparents.  And all 5 of them come to Grandparents Day every fall...one of whom drives 2 hours to do so.  I am so thankful for the grandparents in our family because they just love us and our children with a deep richness that is palpable.  Their arms are always opened wide and their giving is unending.

We can never equally give back to you to the degree you have invested in our family over these past 60+ years, but our school and our families honor you today to show you what a rich heritage you have helped create with these young children.  The life lessons you have taught us, we pass to them.  You have a great legacy behind you.  Our boys may not recognize it now, but one day when they are sitting in the audience with silver hair watching their own legacy on the stage, they will remember...and be grateful.

Thoughts

Well....stuff is on my mind all the time but I don't seem to make time to get it here on the blog.  I think that's because I envision myself as having this really great blog that everyone loves to read...so I don't want to post something that doesn't live up to that standard, in my mind.  Hence, I already have 2 blog posts that have been started but never even finished.  So, I have to lower the expectation I am putting on myself.  Short blog bursts, things I am thinking about, questions in my head...nothing long.  Something I can do in 10 minutes.

Our church has been meeting the last 8 Wednesday nights doing a series on the Body...the Body of Christ that is.  Last night I was challenged on taking my thoughts captive.  Something I have done a lot better with over the years.  I found myself thinking about how much I have improved in this area...how much more awareness I have in this regard.   Then.....the next morning......I got behind a slow driver.  I heard myself thinking, "Give me a break!"  This reminded me that even though we improve in an area, even greatly improve, we still fall short of God's perfect design - elimintaing any opportunity for boasting.  Thank you Jesus for reminding me Who is the Source of all growth and Who is the Carrier of all my short-comings.  I don't deserve you.

Annointed

Believe it or not, this is the first time I've had a block of time to myself with nothing pressing to do so I can finally blog!  Life has been a whirlwind since school started, it seems.  Throughout August & September, I would occasionally think of a cool blog title for something I was doing...but alas I have not gotten around to making it a reality.  The stuff that's on my mind will eventually make it down on this virtual paper though...at some point.  So, what do I write about first?  What event(s) stick out in my mind first when I think back on the last 6-8 weeks.  One definitely comes to mind that I've been wanting to blog about.

It's actually a followup on a previous post of mine about a rental house I bought.  It was a cool story of how Jesus blessed me richly when I was trying to get a good deal on a rental property that I wanted to refurbish.  Well, this is the conclusion of that story.

After we closed on the house, which was about a 3-4 weeks later, we immediately started the rehab.  And by we, I mean my contractor.  However, I was there at the house every day...sometimes twice a day making decisions, answering questions, solving problems, delivering supplies, writing checks, you name it.  Whew!  I was in a hurry though to get it finished, cleaned and listed for rent because the end of August was really close and a lot of people like to move at the end of the month.  I really wanted to get it listed in time for someone who might have needed it September 1st.  One month of missed rent is a big deal on the bottom line too.

Okay...so we bang this house out in 1 week.  And that is 6 straight days of 6am-10pm hours with the last day ending at 2am because carpet was being delivered.  Side note: they usually don't work those kinds of crazy hours, and despite what it may sound like...I'm not a slave-driver.  However, they had a tight schedule and so did I, so there you go.  After carpet is laid and a final cleaning, it's ready for rent.  How close are we to the end of the month?  Ack!  Too close.  About 2-3 days left.  Oh well.  Let's see what happens.

Now comes the exhausting part...if managing a rehab is not exhausting.  Getting called all day long from potential renters, who you are trying to interview as candidates without letting them know that's what you're doing.  Scheduling showings in between working, school pickup, other appointments, evening & school commitments...spending enough time with each renter to get a feel for them...managing the insecurity of "Did I price this too high?  How does my house compare to others?"  After 1-2 weeks of constant showings with no bites, I start to wonder.  What should I do?  Stick to my guns?  Lower the price?  I had it priced on the high end because our rehab guy did an absolutely fantastic job.  It looked better than I imagined it would, so I thought I might be able to get a higher rent.  First week of September is down now, with nothing.  So I lower the price.  My thinking is that if people want it by October 1st, they should be biting with an application soon.  I don't want to squander good potentials because I have it priced too high.  I am sharing my thoughts with my good friend who also has rental properties.  I told her it was making me a bit nervous, waiting on God to provide the right family for that house, but I knew the wait was good for me.

A couple days later, she calls and wants to pray with me about the house.  What a blessing she is!  I say sure, and she goes on to explain that the last house she bought she anointed with oil and prayed over it.  Hmmm....I have never done that before.  I mean, I have prayed over every house either while I was in it or while I was thinking about it...praying for the people who would live there.  But I've never anointed anything.  I'm not opposed to it, I've just not done it.  It there something specific you're supposed to say?  Is it the same as praying?  I know what it means...Set Apart for God's Purpose...and that's what I want this house to be.  I want it to serve Him well and bring glory to him by the way I use it and by the people who live there.  So, I invite her over to the house and it's just her and me.  She has a bottle of oil from her house, and all she did was dot a bit on the door and window frames while she prayed for the house, it's protection, for the people, etc.  Similar to what I was already doing prayer-wise, but with the biblical significance of adding the oil & asking God to set this house apart for His purpose.

It was such a joy praying with her.  She didn't have to do that for me...but boy did it bless me.  So, now there is oil on the door posts.  Everyone who walks in and out of that place is walking underneath prayer.  That is a cool picture. 

Next morning.  Phone rings.  Again.  Another renter wants to see the house, but they are on a tight schedule and want to see it right now...if I'm available of course.  Well normally I am not because I have myself pretty booked up, but I actually had that whole morning free and was just cleaning house and doing laundry.  So, I said okay and met them there.  So, now the interviewing starts.  Why are you moving?  What do you do?  Where are you from?  Let me show you around.  But I don't make it sound bulleted like that.  Just like a normal conversation.  After all of that, I learn that they are believers and are very faithful to a local church.  She has been a Christian for years...and he has been one for 3 weeks.  Come again?  3 Weeks?  Turns out, she has been praying for him to recognize who God is and His power to save, and through all his ups and downs and a big emotional low, his eyes were opened to what his life was missing. Jesus!

So cool!  It wasn't just their story that moved me, but also just the way they were.  They were different than others I had seen.  Oh, and the kicker....their lease expires in 4 days.  They need the house immediately!  Whoa.  How did God do that?  Well, the rest is history.  We signed the lease the next day and they started moving in that night.  Now, when I imagine them at that house, living with their kids, doing life, I imagine that oil that has not been washed off...that they are walking under (unknowingly) every time they enter a room.  Those prayers now live there, just like they do.  Thank you Jesus for that gift to them that they don't even know about.