Start over...

After all the plagues, after all Pharaoh’s opportunities, after all the suffering he brought on the people of the nation he ruled, after all that had happened, there came an end to it.  A tragic end for the Egyptians.  For the enslaved Israelite nation, the end of an era.

"From now on, this month will be your first month. Each of your years will begin with it. Speak to the whole community of Israel…..”(Exodus 12:3 NIrV)

For some four hundred years, this had been their life.  The adults knew no other life.  Children heard stories handed down from great grandparents about life before slavery.  Life had been good.  Easy.  Egyptians were friends, not enemies.

Things change.

God knew the story from the beginning.  When Joseph’s brothers sold him off to those slave traders, which is how they all got into Egypt in the first place, God knew how the story would go.  Nothing that happened was a surprise to Him.  Not the birth of the nation, not the growth of that nation, not the years of blessing and plenty, not the years of bitter enslavement.

When they left the slave camps of Egypt, God gave them instructions to start over.  There would be a whole new calendar, a whole new way of marking the times and events of life.

“From now on..”, God said.

"The LORD will bring you into the land of Canaan. He will give it to you, just as he promised he would. He even took an oath when he made the promise to you and your people of long ago.” (Exodus 13:11 NIrV)


While we are not in the situation of those slaves, we all come to places that mark the end of an era.  Those times should be no surprise to God’s children.  He is faithful to continue to lead, guide, and bless.  Even when we are turning the page of a brand new calendar.

He is faithful.

Tell it like it is...

Often, the story told from different viewpoints sounds like a whole different story.  A spin can be put on it, details left out or elaborated on and the story takes on a new life.  Like the news broadcast companies, there is  a slant to a lot of stories.

I’ve sat and listened to my boys telling stories from when they were young and wondered why they remember the things they do.  Things that made an impact on their memory often missed mine completely.   The stories they remember best are those told to them by their grandparents.


“…you'll be able to tell your children and grandchildren how I toyed with the Egyptians, like a cat with a mouse; you'll tell them the stories of the signs that I brought down on them, so that you'll all know that I am GOD." (Exodus 10:2 The Message)


The Israelite children lived thru a lot.  Ten times plagues came and brought devastation.  Over and over their parents and grandparents watched the power and might of God as He displayed His authority over the so-called gods of Pharaoh and the Egyptians.  Children might remember about all that happened, but God intended them to have some understanding about those events.  He made a point to instruct those parents and grandparents to tell  the story.  God said tell it like it is.  Don’t depend on a child’s memory.  Don’t let a slant be put on it.  Don’t let emotions run loose and make it bigger and don’t let political correctness decrease the magnitude of it.

Tell it like it is.

Tell the generations after you what you have witnessed.  Tell them how Your Creator God wielded His power over Egypt.  And you won’t need to spin it, give it a slant, or elaborate.

Those children grew up and at God’s direction, re- told the stories of their deliverance.

Do my children hear the stories of MY deliverance? Have I told the stories of how God has acted in my life, how He has guided me and protected me?

“… tell your children and grandchildren ……………… how I performed my signs ……….. that you may know that I am the LORD." (Exodus 10:2 NIV)


He is God, and I am not.  THAT is how it is.

Say when....

In this age of fast food and speedy internet, I find myself usually saying "NOW!’.

I want my food now.

I want to be checked out now.
I want to be waited on and helped now.
I want my phone faster, I want my computer and internet service to be faster.
I want my deliveries to be faster.
I want people to do what they are supposed to do without being told ‘when’ they should.

Not only do I want things ‘now’, I expect.

I expect my food to be what I ordered.
I expect service to be available and plentiful.
I expect there to be ways to improve what is not up to standard.
I expect people to do what they are supposed to do.
I expect people to be honest and fair.

I’ve expected so many things that turned out to be just as I expected.  But occasionally, that unexpected thing knocks the wind out of my sail.

I can voice all my desires and ‘say when’ moments but that doesn’t mean I always get them.  Though I can’t wrap my brain around it, God is not affected by time.  He says when and He is far more patient than I am.

Scripture tells about times that God would ‘say when’. times when He spoke and didn’t even have to say ‘now’.  Whatever He said, simply WAS.  Whatever He says still,  simply IS.

“Let there be light”, and there was light. (Genesis 1:3 KJV)


When Pharaoh had frogs all over his house, God allowed him to ‘say when’ he would like for God to remove them.  Incredible.  Ole’ Pharaoh had no idea how out of the ordinary it is for God to allow US to ‘say when’!!!

"I leave to you the honor of setting the time for me to pray for you and your officials and your people that you and your houses may be rid of the frogs, except for those that remain in the Nile."   "Tomorrow," Pharaoh said. Moses replied, "It will be as you say, so that you may know there is no one like the LORD our God.   The frogs will leave you and your houses, your officials and your people; they will remain only in the Nile." (Exodus 8:9-11 NIV)

God had a purpose in letting Pharaoh ‘say when’.  He was making it evident just who was in charge.  God sent the frogs, and when the frogs were eliminated at the exact time Pharaoh said, it would be hard for Pharaoh to explain that away.  Pharaoh would have one less excuse to not believe that God is God, and Pharaoh was simply was NOT.

God hasn’t let me ‘say when’ lately.  God has allowed things to which I would have said an emphatic ‘not now’!  But unlike the situation with Pharaoh and the frogs, I don’t need God to display the truth to me that He is in charge.


I purpose to not presume to ‘say when’.
He is God, and I am not.

Plagues of frogs....

Frog.  I see a little green frog and I immediately am challenged to Fully Rely On God.  FROG. There have been times when it seemed I saw a little green frog every single day, sometimes more than once.
 
I've been studying the life of Moses and the passages of this week's study contain the stories about the plagues that God sent on the Egyptians.  God intended for His people to be freed from slavery.  Each of the ten plagues were a direct assault on one of Egypt's many gods.  They believed the Nile river was the blood stream of their god Hapi.  God turned the water of that river to real blood.  For seven days there was no fresh water from that river, only blood.  Imagine the stench....

The Egyptians thought frogs were sacred.  Heqet was the frog-like goddess of life and fertility. They wouldn't kill frogs.  When God sent Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh with the message again to let His people go, God warned them that He would send a second plague, a plague of frogs.

I guess Pharaoh hadn't any idea of how many frogs God could come up with.  The Bible tells us that frogs were everywhere.  "

If you refuse..... I will send a plague of frogs on your whole country.  The Nile will teem with frogs. They will come up into your palace and your bedroom and onto your bed, into the houses of your officials and on your people, and into your ovens and kneading troughs.  The frogs will come up on you and your people and all your officials.'" (Exodus 8:1-4 NIV)

Ick.

I guess Pharaoh thought so too, he "summoned Moses and Aaron and said, "Pray to the LORD to take the frogs away from me and my people, and I will let your people go to offer sacrifices to the LORD." (vs. 8)

I wonder what the Egyptians thought from then on, each time they saw a frog, did they remember? Did the frog remind them of the power of God?  Did it remind them that God does exactly what He says He will do.  Did they remember that when God makes a statement or promise, that they could fully rely on Him to do just that? 

Fully Rely On God.  I don't need but one little green frog to remind me of that.......

Everything happens for a reason...

Well, yes it does.  Sin entered the world for a reason.  A choice to disobey God.

I could list dozens and dozens of reasons that things happen.  Everything that happens, happens because of a reason.   Duh.

That does not mean that everything that happens, happens for a GOOD reason.

But, “…we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28 TNIV)


I am called according to His purposes.  I am not perfect.  My obedience is not perfect.  But I love Him and submit myself anew to His calling on my life.  And because HE is God, and I am NOT, all things…..ALL things, will work for my good.

Yep.  Everything happens for a reason.

Who gets the glory...?

　

It is in the most difficult of times that I am most intimate with the God Who made me.

In the times when I am helpless to change a situation, in times of hurt, times of crisis, when my heart and body ache…it is then that I know the Presence of my Father the most.

I want to serve Him all the time. I never want to take Him for granted. I want to bring honor to Him and make Him known to others. I want to bring Him glory thru the way I live my life. In every detail, every day, week after week, year after year.

I fail so miserably. I am ashamed that sometimes I glorify myself. I forget that it is Him and not me that has accomplished anything that is of any worth or value in my life. When I find myself in the most difficult situations, it is then that I have the best opportunity to bring Him glory.

He has shown Himself faithful to be always before me and behind me. He is the same today as yesterday and yesteryear. Nothing surprises Him as it surprises me. And He is capable of handling all my tomorrows.

He is so good.

Put it in gear.....

My Bible Study Fellowship lesson asks me to consider the question “Spiritually, do you think the Christian life should be like driving a car?”

My first impulsive answer is “YES!!!!! I want to put it in gear and go! Sometimes put it in reverse and back up!! Sometimes I want to slam a brake and stop!! I want to honk at what is in my way. And I want to PASS what is in the way!”

Doesn’t work like that….

I have a brand new car. I got it several weeks ago, I picked it out myself. It has lots of bells and whistles. It gets great mileage, is quite luxurious on the inside. It drives and rides like a dream.

It has a camera that shows me what is behind me when I back up. I has a little alarm that warns me if I’m too close to something. I can hear directions to my destination thru the radio speakers.

It has a button to push that will heat the steering wheel when it’s cold (…that will be nice to my old achy worn out hands when it’s cold). It has heated seats that really feel good to my back on the way home from a 10 hour day behind a styling chair.


My life should be so easy to motivate.

But…I do have warning signals and I do have guidance. I do have a Source of comfort.

I just need to get out of the drivers seat and let my Chauffeur take the wheel. He is a much better Driver than I am. His driving record is perfect….

Listen to Me….

The Hebrew people had it rough. It was hot, the work they were forced to do was hard and just got harder after Moses showed up. Some rescuer he was!

God had spelled it out for them. I AM the Lord. I will bring you out. I will free you. I will redeem you. I will take you as my own, I will be your God. I will bring you to the land I promised. I will give it to you. Promise after promise after promise… (taken from Exodus 6:6-8 NIV)

“Moses reported this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and harsh labor.” (Exodus 6:9 NIV)

I know they were tired out. Work, work, work. Day after day. Wonderful promises are hard to focus on when you are worn out.

I don’t want to be a tired Israelite.

I want to listen even though I am discouraged and tired.

Where is that cloud....?

I've studied the life of Moses before.  But God always has perfect timing and I find myself learning from Ole' Mose again right now. After having left the palace and found rejection from his own people, Moses lived with yet another foreign people.  He married, had children, got a job shepherding, and then came up on that flaming bush that wouldn't burn up. 
At Moses' request, God brought his brother Aaron to help him do what God had for him to do, and off they went to that familiar palace to deliver a very hard message.  "Let my people go or...."

So, Moses and Aaron told Pharaoh what God had said and Pharaoh refused.  Big surprise.

I'm already feeling sorry for Moses.  He has before him an impossible task humanly speaking.  He is no match and no threat to Pharaoh.  In fact, in response to Moses' direction from God, Pharaoh just makes life more difficult for the very people Moses wants to help.  Pharaoh doubles the workload. 

"Is this why you sent me?"
"You haven't saved Your people at all!"
(Exodus 5:22,23 NIV)

I'm not Moses.  But I sure empathize and sympathize. 

I look at my circumstances and wonder "Why Lord?  I thought I was about to get to a place where life would be easier from here on out.  I thought I had worked hard enough to take it easy in the near future.  I have done what I understood You to ask.  Now, it seems that things will just get harder...."

Looks like the promised land is just a little further.  (.....where is that cloud....???) 

Just look at me....

It wasn't meant to be advice really.  It was just a comment in a casual conversation.

 "Just look at me", she said. 

It has always been true of me that I learn best from a negative experience or example.  I have been in situations that made me purpose to never be guilty of some wrong behavior or attitude.  I have learned how I do NOT want to treat other people.  I have learned how I do NOT want to make a mess of relationships.  I have learned how I do NOT want to behave, react, or respond.

I have learned those things by being treated poorly, by seeing others suffer because of poor treatment, by seeing relationships crumble and words ripping thru hearts.

At my age, I might have expected to have it all mastered by now.  But just look at me too.

My mother's words come repeated from my own heart tonight.  Just look at me, I have learned a lot, and I still fail miserably.  Don't we all....

I look at her and know that she had hour after hour to look back in regret.  Her situation might have been different. 

I look at me and know that there is much to regret as well.  My life might have been different.  I might have been a better wife, mother, friend, employee....I might have been a better person. 

But as my first daughter-in-law often says, 'It is what it is'. 

So I purpose tonight to take my mother's unintended advice.  I purpose to not be defeated by the enemy's accusations over the regret that I do have.  I purpose to hear the soft still Voice whispering and leading forward.  He is able to "restore what the locusts have eaten"(Joel 2:25)

I purpose to learn as much as I can from every wrong choice and every painful mistake.  And I purpose to live in victory not regret, knowing that He is more than able to handle what I can not.

Hallelujah.

T.H.I.N.K.

T.H.I.N.K…..

"...whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things." (Phil. 4:8 NASB)

Sometimes it's hard to find something to think about.

The enemy makes sure there is plenty of things to think about that are not true, that are not honorable, that are not right, that are not pure, that are not lovely, that have no good repute or excellence, things that certainly are not worthy of praise.....it is easy to find those things to dwell on.

God has given me a filter.  If only I could use it consistently.  If only I could remember to T.H.I.N.K.  If I could always remember to filter my thoughts and choose what is really true, what brings honor, what is really right and pure, what cultivates good repute rather than tearing down.

Yet, I fall into the enemy’s trap and find myself thinking on things from his perspective rather than my Lord’s perspective.

Satan has always used that tactic.  He distorts truth.  He presents it to us and so often we take it and bite right into it, even though we have been advised differently.

If there was just an off switch.  Wouldn’t that be great?  A switch to just turn my thoughts off.  At least for a while….

I purpose tonight to begin afresh, repenting of wrong thinking and begin “ fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ.”   (2 Cor. 10:5 The Message)

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How long has it been....

My daddy asked that question today.  He read aloud the lyrics to an old familiar hymn. 

How long since your mind felt at ease?

How long since your heart knew no burden?

How long since you felt this day is worth living?

Those are questions that don't always have a positive answer.  Often my mind if anything but at ease.  Often my heart is extremely burdened.  And many days I wonder just why I'm doing what I do. 

Then I look at the faces of those people in the wheelchairs that fill the room of the nursing home, one of them holding my mother.  If I can't answer those questions in a positive light, how might they feel? What makes the day worth living?  What burdens their mind, what makes their mind uneasy?  

My mother told me that after 60 years of marriage, being separated is hard.  I told her that yes, I was sure that it was and that I could only imagine it.  Having been married to the same precious man for 40 years myself, I can imagine it.  But imagining it is not the same as living the reality of it.  

How long has it been since she's been alone?  60+ years, that's how long. 

The lyrics of the song served to remind her that she is not alone.  The song challenged all of us.

How long since you talked with the Lord?

How long since you told Him your heart's secrets?

How long since you stayed on your knees til the light shone through?

There is no separation from God.  There is nothing except our own neglect that keeps Him from sharing our heart's secrets.  Nothing that keeps His Light from shining through the gloom of our days except that we simply do not look to Him.  "You do not have, because you do not ask..." (James 4:2 NIV)

How long has it been since you called Him your Friend? 

How long since you knew in your knowing place, that He genuinely cares for you? 

Hopelessly devoted to you....

Maggie was just that, hopelessly devoted.


It didn’t take much to make her happy. Talk to her. Give her a little attention. Touch her. Let her be near you.


I regret that I didn’t accept her devotion. She was clingy. She was messy. She smelled. She wanted so badly to love on me. I kept her at a distance.


I watched as someone else appreciated her devotion. The messiness and the smell didn’t stop him from receiving the devotion she had for him. He simply accepted her love, messiness, smell and all.


I’ve learned some hard lessons from Maggie. Maggie never let rejection change her. Day after day I kept her at a distance. Day after day she tried to demonstrate her devotion. Even when I refused it over and over, she still offered her love and she still wanted mine.


I want to be more like Maggie and less like me. I want to be free with my affection. I want to be hopelessly devoted.


I’m sorry Maggie. It’s too late to show you. If there was not another single purpose for your life, you showed me what it means to be hopelessly devoted. I saw love demonstrated with no expectations or demands. If there are dogs in heaven you are there.








 

Sitting in the shade...

I spent a majority of my day doing just that.  Sitting in the shade on my little concrete patio, looking at the roses, snapdragons, and peonies that are blooming in the flowerbeds.  It has been a while since I could do that, just sit.

I did very little reading, online or off.  No Ipad, no computer.  I did keep my phone nearby because my business is open today so I had to be available.  No books, no magazines.  Just sitting.

Elijah did some sitting in the shade once. His sitting was done out of exhaustion, depression, and desperation.  (I Kings 19:4)

I’ve done sitting of that sort too.  But not today.  Today was a restful day.  Restful for body and mind.  It was a great day, don’t get me wrong…I enjoyed it.

But how do people just sit and do nothing day after day?  Accomplishing nothing.  Contributing nothing.  Just taking up space.

I struggle with resentment in this.  I work.  Hard and long.  It just irks me that what I work for ends up in the belly of somebody sitting in the shade, day after day after day.

It shouldn’t be that way.  Paul says so too.

  “Don't you remember the rule we had when we lived with you? "If you don't work, you don't eat."  And now we're getting reports that a bunch of lazy good-for-nothings are taking advantage of you.  This must not be tolerated. We command them to get to work immediately--no excuses, no arguments--and earn their own keep.  Friends, don't slack off in doing your duty.  If anyone refuses to obey our clear command written in this letter, don't let him get by with it. Point out such a person and refuse to subsidize his freeloading. Maybe then he'll think twice. “ (2 Thes. 3:10-14 The Message)

Sitting in the shade is pleasant. But it must never become a way of life.

I sing because.....

Sometimes a song is just appropriate. When there’s a cake with candles, the happy birthday song is appropriate. When a new year is dawning, it’s Auld Lange Syne.


Music is a gift of God. We’ve learned how to use it in different ways, different styles, added different words. We have even perverted it and used it in wrong ways. The enemy doesn’t leave anything untouched, he’s done his thing on music too, using it for evil instead of the good that God created it for.


On Sunday, I sing because it is appropriate. It is appropriate to sing to and about our Creator God. Not because He needs His ego stroked. It is appropriate because I need to be reminded of His love and majesty.

“….be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Eph. 5:18-20 NIV)



Making music about our Lord ushers in the Spirit of God, promotes a heart of gratitude to Him for His love and provision, and being filled with His Presence makes it impossible for the enemy to fill us with his lies, his accusations, stealing our joy. That is the enemy’s intent you know…. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy…” (John 10:10 NIV)

This Sunday, we sang for an activity. We visited a nursing home and thought it would be a distraction, add to the conversation. Or relieve a lack of it….

Music brings back memories and emotions. Music that speaks of the nature of God reminds us of Who He is. Songs about His Majesty remind us of who we are. And who we are NOT.


I sing because I’m happy.

I sing because I’m free.

His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches….me.


Hallelujah

Disappear into thin air....

I wish it were that easy don’t you? I wish problems could just ‘poof’. 


In these days of social media, we may think it is possible. A couple clicks on the privacy settings and ‘poof’…. 

But things don’t disappear, problems aren’t solved. Oh, I think it is often wise to remove ourselves from media situations, especially those of the dramatic variety. But shutting people out never solves an issue.

We humans can’t make anything disappear into thin air. Only God can do that.

“As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.” (Ps. 103:12 NASB)

How thankful I am that he doesn’t shut me out when I disappoint Him or betray Him. How thankful I am that He doesn’t point His Finger and make me disappear into thin air. 

I pray You know Him well enough to take your problems to Him instead of trying to make them disappear on your own. You’ll never make them disappear.


 

Running off at the mouth....

I know better.  I’ve been warned.

“…the tongue is a small part of the body. But it brags a lot. Think about how a small spark can set a big forest on fire……… the most evil part of the body. It pollutes the whole person…….. the tongue is set on fire by hell.    People have controlled all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea….. But no one can control the tongue. It is an evil thing that never rests. It is full of deadly poison. With our tongues we praise our Lord and Father. With our tongues we call down curses on people….. Praise and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, it shouldn't be that way.” (James 3:5-10 NIrV)

Today was one of those days that my tongue was not surrendered to that still small Voice.  I was controlling it.  Or, rather….there was no control of it.

I have excuses.  Too much work with too little sleep.  Frustration. Problems with no obvious solutions. The list could get much longer.

When I allow my mouth to spew off,  situations never get better.  They usually just get worse.  It is a devil’s lie that my words have any power to make situations better. It is in my silence that the power comes.  His power.

So tonight, with the words of David, I again regret moments of uncensored words.


“…The directions the LORD gives are true. All of them are completely right……I am warned by them. When I obey them, I am greatly rewarded.  Can I know my mistakes? Forgive my hidden faults.   Keep me also from the sins I want to commit. May they not be my master. Then I will be without blame. I will not be guilty of any great sin against your law.    LORD, may the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing in your eyes. You are my Rock and my Redeemer.” (Psa. 19:9-14 NIrV)

Glued to the screen....

Some folks use their phone.  Some use a tablet, others use a computer.  Some opt for the old fashioned television.  All of these screens can show you a radar screen and give you information about bad weather.

For days, the weather forecasters talked about the conditions being right for tornados.  For days, some of us were glued to the screen, watching and expecting.  We want to be prepared.  We don’t want to be caught off guard, have some devastating wind sneak up on us unaware.

I wasn’t one of those who stayed glued to the screen these past few days.  Perhaps because the man I share my life with watches the weather closely, not just the screens on electronic devices, but the conditions of the wildlife, the way smoke rises or falls, etc.  He watches it, so I don’t.  I depend on him to watch out for our safety in that regard, as in many other things.

The words of an old song come to mind.

There’s a great day coming, a great day coming, there’s a a great day coming by and by.
When the saints and the sinners shall be parted right and left, are you ready for that day to come?

There’s a bright day coming, a bright day coming, there’s a bright day coming by and by.
But it’s brightness shall only come to them that love the Lord, are you ready for that day to come?

There’s a sad day coming, a sad day coming, there’s a sad day coming by and by.
When the sinner shall hear his doom, ‘Depart, I know ye not.’
Are you ready for that day to come?

Are you ready?  Are you ready? Are you ready for the judgment day?
Are you ready Are you ready? Are you ready for the judgment day?

We don’t need a phone, computer, or television to prepare for this great event.  We need a Savior.

It is impossible to prepare our own selves.

Impossible.

No behavior modification will help.

I pray you know Him as that day approaches.

Why me Lord....?*•♫♪♪♫••*•♫♪♫•*•♫♪♪*

*•♫♪♪♫••*•♫♪♫•*•♫♪♪* what have I ever done, to deserve even one....of the pleasures I've known.*•♫♪♪♫••*•♫♪♫•*•♫♪♪*.

Tonight I sat and watched reports about devastation from tornados.  Storms have been predicted for our area for several days.  I was never much concerned about it.  I fully realized the possibility.  I also fully realized that I can't do a single solitary thing about it one way or the other.

I am thanking God tonight that me and mine have not been touched by tragedy.  Yet, I know that somewhere at this very moment, there are cherished children of God who have been deeply hurt, some have perished.  Did they not pray to the same God?  Why did He allow this disaster?

It is not a new question.  Why do bad things happen to good people?  Why do good things happen to bad people?  I have no answer...

One thing I know.  God is not vicious.  He is not partial.  And He is not unjust.  I know that He is Master over everything He chooses to control.  Why He chooses as He does is not for me to know or understand.

He is God.  I am not.

I ask Him to bring peace and calm to the weather, and to the hearts and bodies of all who are in such chaos and calamity tonight.

He is God.  He is able.