Just Thinking...

I was just thinking the other day. That's it... just thinking. My job has been good but exceptionally busy working more hours than I truly should be working. (My own doing.) I knew this time was coming so I was prepared mentally and physically for this time. Still in all, come each weekend, I am pretty crispy.

Recently, my grandmother (she's 95) fell, surviving the fall with only a broken finger, yet continued to fall every day. It was evident that it was time for Nana to be moved to a home, a very tough decision for my Dad. After a long week, I jumped into the car, headed to St Augustine for the evening with Dad and to visit with Nana the following day before heading home again.

That Saturday morning in St Augustine, following my morning study time, I went for a quick jog to try to shake the week from me. I ran from the house to the beach, then ran along the beach; not a far run but long enough to sweat. Since the heat index was passed "oppressive," it didn't take long to sweat out the week. I had planned to walk back to the house from the beach so I could jump into the ocean for a few minutes following my run.

Having sweat sufficiently, I now stood in the ocean watching the waves and listening to God breathe. Ever notice how the sound of crashing waves sounds like someone breathing? Since I was a kid, I thought the sound of the ocean was God breathing... I love listening to the sound of the ocean.

The waves were big and the water a bit unseasonably cool because Tropical Storm Emily was somewhere east off the coast. (She brought with her some old-time Florida heat and big waves.) The water was refreshing as I stood there for a long time letting the waves massage by legs, listening to God breathe and just thinking.

After a while of standing in the water, having dunked a few times, it was time to head back to the house. Between the beach and Dad's neighborhood are two blocks of beach houses. Some are nicely done, some are new homes replacing older beach homes and some are the older beach homes. I realized, as I walked home, that the wild grape vines have taken over, weaving a mat and nearly choking out the other vegetation. Only those homes who's owners are most diligent at weeding, don't have the mat of grape vines.

The leaves on these wild grape vines are turning yellowish and tinged with brown showing it's almost harvest time. I look for the grapes and see only a few here and there in various stages of ripening. Every once and a while I see a true cluster of grapes that look worth eating. The birds and squirrels have gotten most of the grapes, I thought. Even though the vines have woven into a thick mat, they are scraggly, unhealthy and wild. If you taste a grape, you'll notice the fruit tastes like a bitter concord grape not good for anything but feeding the birds and animals. To us, the vines are invasive and destructive producing only worthless fruit.

As always, God speaks and He reminds me of Scripture. He brings to mind the story about the man who planted a choice vineyard. I had to look it up when I got home to remember it was Isaiah 5. In the story, Isaiah calls to mind a man who plants and builds a quality vineyard with the choicest of vines expecting the choicest of fruits. The man marks out his prize vineyard with a wall. He clears out all of the stones and tills the soil so its optimal for the vines. He plants a hedge to protect the vineyard from destructive animals. He digs a wine press anticipating that he will have the best fruit to make wine; the choicest of grapes and not useless grapes good only for feeding animals. He builds a watchtower to have security over wildfires, approaching weather, thieves and poachers. The man is God. The vineyard is in His garden and is Israel, "the called out." He has gardeners in charge of maintaining His vineyard. And when God returns to collect the expected choice fruit in order to make choice wine, He only finds bad fruit.

As I was thinking, I also know that Israel - the called out - is also a type of the Church; we who are called out by God to live a life in continuing stages of changing as a testimony to Him so others will see us, give recognition to God and turn from their lives to submit to Him. So, when I read about Israel, its responsibilities, failures and demise, I know God's Word is also calling me and the Church into the same relationship with responsibilities.

God created His garden - earth - and planted His choice vineyard - the church - and placed the vineyard into the care of gardeners to work it for Him - man (Genesis 1: 26, 28-30, 2:15). However, man grew complacent, selfish, and resentful, so we lightly took our honored responsibilities, fell asleep in some cases, willing opening the gate to those that destroy; in some cases allowing the enemy of God into His garden and vineyard. Given that opportunity, what better way to destroy your enemy than from within, so God's enemy plants wild grapes in God's vineyard just like this enemy sewed bad seed into God's grain fields. (Matthew 13:24-30)

Like tares resemble wheat, the wild grapes resemble the good grapes. Tares look like wheat when they grow, even have heads of "wheat" but, tares don't bow their heads at the harvest time as wheat does. I'm guessing it's the weight of good grain verses empty, useless grain. Tares are just wild grasses. The wild grapes by sight, look like good vines, produce fruit like good vines but when you taste the fruit, then you know it's useless fruit not worthy for choice things.

As I stand there on the side of the road, wet from listening to God breathe, I think now of God saying, "Let them grow together until it's harvest time, then the harvesters can pull everything, separate the bad from the good, move the good into my barn, bundle up and burn the bad stuff." (Rose's paraphrase of several Scriptures Matthew 13: 29-30; 25: 31-46) It was a scary thought.

Are these grape vines a visible warning, in nature, to us who know God? Are we to see that the bad have grown over and in place of the good so we will wake from our stupor, rise up to call on God for His help? How much longer will God and His patience allow us to sleep as the weeds take over His garden? How much longer will God and His patience allow us to stand with His gate wide open as we allow all sorts of undesirables to corrupt His vineyard, His church? Are we near the end because in nature we see the signs of the harvest time - both harvest times of the natural seasons as well as the harvest times of the Heavenly realms?

Only God knows the time of THAT DAY. Only He can extend the time until the harvest comes, allowing us to wake up and work with Him to restore His garden. Only He knows the time when He will tell His Son Jesus to go bring His bride home; go get the fruit from the vineyard.

When I read Isaiah 5, I realized that God is about to take away the demarcation of our "vineyard." He will take away the hedge of protection because the vineyard is useless. He will allow the vineyard to be trampled and turned into a wasteland. He will tell the clouds not to rain on it to nourish the vineyard. He says woe to the gardener who adds house upon house - we certainly are a people who buy and accumulate lots of stuff, many houses, several cars, etc. And at the end, only exile awaits the gardeners of the vineyard.

From my very limited knowledge of prophecy, our great country (the USA) is not mentioned literally in end times prophecy. The question is... is this because the gardeners wake up, confess our bad practices to the owner of the vineyard, turn and submit ourselves to work with Him to restore His vineyard before the harvest? Do we prepare for our jobs, for this time of critical work? Or do we continue to sleep and continue to open the gate to those who want to destroy? Are we to live through the destruction of the vineyard? Once again, only God knows. As for me and my house, I'm asking God to wake us up and prepare us for worthy gardening.

After all, I was just thinking...

Who is this coming?

A glimpse of things yet to come.
Journal entry from June 29 through July 6, 2011  

While reading Song of Songs, I was struck by the imagery of chapter 3, verses 6 through 11. The verses were simply pregnant with the future arrival of King Jesus. As I read this passage, more and more Scripture came to mind. Jotting them down, I began to see a bigger scene of the Kingly arrival of Jesus for/or following His marriage to His Bride, the Church. Each piece of Scripture further defined Him. I ran from Revelation to Exodus to Matthew to John and James to Psalms; I compared it to the Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic using a Lexicon. I felt like His betrothed, His lover where earlier in chapter 3 she is searching for Him. Looking everywhere until she finds Him, holds Him and won't let go. Do you see Him? Do you see Him coming in all His pageantry and promise?

Here is the entire piece of Scripture - Song of Songs 3:6-11 (NIV):

Who is this coming up from the desert
like a column of smoke,
perfumed with myrrh and incense
made from all the spices of the merchant?

Look! It is Solomon's carriage,
escorted by sixty warriors,
the noblest of Israel,
all of them wearing the sword,
all experienced in battle,
each with his sword at his side,
prepared for the terrors of the night.

King Solomon made for himself the carriage;
he made it of wood from Lebanon.
Its posts he made of silver,
its base of gold
Its seat was upholstered with purple,
its interior lovingly inlaid
by the daughters of Jerusalem.

Come out, you daughters of Zion,
and look at King Solomon wearing the crown,
the crown with which his mother crowned him
on the day of his wedding,
the day his heart rejoiced.

Now, look at this Scripture again with all of the relating pieces. 

Who is this coming up from the desert

Who is coming up from the uncultivated, seasonal grasslands; Isaiah 40:6-8 "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of God stands forever." Matthew 6: 29-30 "Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these (lilies of the field). If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?"

I also see desert as being the wasteland that the tribe of Israel wandered through for 40 years when they left Egypt, which Egypt is a synonym for slavery, bondage to this world and the death it brings. Hosea 11:1 "Out of Egypt I have called my son." The wasteland is also the result of God removing His hedge and wall of protection from His garden/vineyard to be trampled since it is useless where only wild grapes and wild grass grow there. Isaiah 5 
 

Like a column of smoke

Exodus 13:21-22 "By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night a pillar of fire to give them light."

perfumed with myrrh and incense made from all the spices of the merchant?

 
Matthew 2:11"Then they (Magi) opened their treasure and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh." Gold = King; incense/frankincense = priest; myrrh = royal burial, king and priest

(My entry entitled, "The Fragrance of Christ" November 2010)

Exodus 25:6 "...spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense,..."

(My entry entitled, "I Love the Old Testament" February 2011)

Exodus 30:7-9 "Aaron must burn fragrant incense on the altar every morning... he must burn incense again when he lights the lamps... so incense will burn regularly before the Lord for the generations to come..."

Exodus 30:34-38 "Then the Lord said to Moses, "Take the fragrant spices - gum resin, onycha and galbanum - and pure frankincense all in equal amounts and make a fragrant blend of incense, the work of a perfumer... grind some of it to powder and place it in front of the testimony in the Tent of the Meeting, where I will meet with you. It shall be most holy to you. Do not make any incense with this formula for yourselves; consider it holy to the Lord..."

Verse 3:6 in the English Standard Version
What is that coming up from the wilderness like a column of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all the fragrant powders of the merchant?

Look! It's Solomon's carriage

Solomon = the son of David, heir to the throne of David = Messianic title Son of David who is the true heir to the throne of David. Matthew 20:30 "... Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" Solomon also means 'Peace' so it could also be read as "Prince of Peace".

(My entry entitled, "Blind Faith" December 2010)

John 18:37 "Jesus answered, 'You are right saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born and for this I came into the world to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.'"

Some commentators say this procession is the Bride going to meet her husband and they gave good explanations for it. But, the Jewish wedding is the groom going to get his bride, with his groom's men accompanying him blowing horns announcing his arrival, "The bridegroom comes!" During the year of betrothal, the husband-to-be builds an addition onto his father's home and when it's complete and his father gives permission, the husband-to-be (the bridegroom) goes with his party to get his bride to bring her back to the place he prepared for her and himself to live. The marriage is consummated at that time. The word carriage translated into couch or bed or chariot. If it was a couch or bed, why would the bride be bringing a bed that her husband made to meet her husband when Jewish tradition is the husband going to claim his bride? It didn't make sense to me so that is why I believe this portion of Scripture depicts the husband - Solomon - going to claim his bride or is of him following his marriage to his bride.

John 14:2-3 "In my Father's house are many rooms, if it were not so I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." 

escorted by sixty warriors,
the noblest of Israel,
all of them wearing the sword,
all experienced in battle,
each with his sword at his side,
prepared for the terrors of the night.

Sixty = more than you can count on one hand; kings had fifty+ men run in front of the carriage to signify that the carriage was of a king (1 Kings 1:5)
Sword = Word of God, truth

Hebrew 4:12 "For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account."

Matthew 10:34 "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword."

Ephesians 6:17 "... and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God."

All of Ephesians 6:10-18 "Finally, be strong in the Lord and His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's scheme. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."

Revelation 19:14-15 "The armies of heaven were following Him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of His mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations."

The warriors are experts in spiritual warfare, who have matured into the image of Christ by the Word of God, the truth of God. Looking inwardly, they battled the things that weren't of God with the Truth of God and stood the testing of their faith proven true.

Jesus needs only to speak truth when He returns. The sword that comes from His mouth in Revelation, I believe is the truth of God He speaks. Truth, God's truth, is more powerful than any weapon and will destroy anyone not found to be in God's truth and not covered by Jesus' righteousness.

Hebrews 12:1-13 "Therefore, we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Psalm 91 seems to describe what these warriors and the armies of heaven will face during the second coming of Jesus. Verse 5 also mentions "the terrors at night" which means the imminent threat of attack of an enemy of war.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty
I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress
my God, in whom I trust."
Surely He will save you from the fowler's snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his feathers
and under His wings you will find refuge;
His faithfulness will be your
shield and rampart.
You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
If you make the Most High your dwelling -
even the Lord, who is my refuge -
then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
For He will command His angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against the stone.
You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
"Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges My Name.
He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life will I satisfy him
and show him My Salvation." 

King Solomon made for himself the carriage;
he made it of wood from Lebanon.
Its posts he made of silver,
its base of gold.
Its seat was upholstered with purple,
its interior lovingly inlaid
by the daughters of Jerusalem.

King Solomon, Son of David, heir to the throne of David, made for himself a chariot made out of wood, the same wood used to make the temple. 1 Kings 5:6, "So give orders that cedars of Lebanon be cut for me." To make the chariot himself, Son of David must have been a carpenter. Mark 6:3 "Isn't this the carpenter?" Matthew 13:55 "Isn't this the carpenter's son?"

The description of the carriage is similar to the materials used to make the Tabernacle, where God dwelt with Israel for 40 years in the desert, and the Temple Solomon built for the worship of God. Exodus 25:3-4 "These are the offerings you (Moses) are to receive from them (Israelites): gold, silver and bronze; blue, purple and scarlet yarn..." Exodus 26:1 "Make the tabernacle with ten curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, with cherubim worked into them by a skilled craftsman." Exodus 26:19 "... and make forty silver bases to go under them - two bases for each frame..." Exodus 26:29 "Overlay the frames with gold and make gold rings to hold the crossbars. Also overlay the crossbars with gold." Exodus 26:32 "Hang it with gold hooks on four posts or acacia wood overlaid with gold and standing on four silver bases." Of the Temple's inner sanctuary, Solomon had it, 1 Kings 6:20 "He overlaid the inside with pure gold and he also overlaid the altar of cedar."

The daughters of Jerusalem = women, maidens. 
 

Come out, you daughters of Zion,

This section of Scripture, from the daughters of Jerusalem lovingly inlaying the interior of the carriage with purple - royal - upholstery to the company accompanying the King calling out the daughters of Zion, reminds me of the parable of the ten virgins which follows a discourse where Jesus is explaining end times. Matthew 25:1-13 "At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'

Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.'

'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.'

But while they were on their way to buy oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said, 'Open the door for us!'

But he replied, 'I tell you the truth. I don't know you.'

Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or hour." 

and look at King Solomon wearing the crown,
the crown with which his mother crowned him

Jesus' earthly Mother, Mary, is a bit of an enigma. In some denominations of Christianity, we have placed Mary very low on the scale of importance. In one denomination, she is placed too high given the same seats as Jesus Christ and God Himself. Mary, at a tender teenage year, some say age 16, believed completely God's Word of prophecy to her concerning her role with Messiah. (Luke 1:26-38) During that conversation with God's messenger, the angel describes Mary as, (Luke 1:28) highly favored. She, out of all woman from Eve to the last woman to breathe her last breath, was selected by God Himself to bare, deliver, raise and love His Son, Jesus the Anointed One of God. Amazing, really, when you think about that designation by God of Mary. Yet, Mary also was human and made human mistakes and she too would have her inner thoughts, her life, her choices, pierced by God's truths. Luke 2:34-35 "Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: 'The child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.'" Mary doubted who Jesus was at some time during His ministry as we see her with her sons going to try to take Jesus home because she and her sons, Jesus' brothers (His earthly family) thought He had lost His mind. Matthew 12:46-50 "While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, His mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to Him. Someone told Him, 'Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.' He replied to him, 'Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?' Pointing to the disciples, He said, 'Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.'" Then again, we see how special of a woman she is in Jesus' eyes that while He was dying on the cross, He remembers to take care of Mary His earthly mother. John 19:26-27 "When Jesus saw His mother there, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, 'Dear woman, here is your son,' and to the disciple, 'Here is your mother.' From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.'

I often think what Jesus' family life must have been like. In verse 50 of Matthew 12, Jesus says 'whoever does the will of my Father in Heaven' is His family. Is that statement revealing that His earthly family wasn't doing the will of God, at that time? Perhaps Jesus' family life was similar to many of our lives where siblings fight and are jealous. Maybe they thought he was looney, tried to convinced their collective mother (Mary) that Jesus was out of his mind, a lost cause, let him go. Had they abandoned their mother because she couldn't let Jesus go? Is that why Jesus asked John to care for Mary as if she was his own mother? Did John do that role until Mary passed or until James and Jude, Jesus' brothers, realized who Jesus truly was and is? Did His brothers then care for Mary their mother as they were supposed to care for her?

And yet, Mary is highly favored with God. Chosen to bare His Son. Chosen to raise His Son. And now, it seems, she will have the esteemed honor, in the role of mother, to crown Jesus King on the day of His wedding. What an amazing tribute and honor bestowed upon Mary. 

on the day of his wedding
the day his heart rejoiced

Jesus knew the promises of His wedding day through only the Old Testament Scriptures; He knew those promises so well He was able to look passed the humiliation and injustice of the cross in order to focus on God's truths and promises to Him. One day, I will have to find and add some of those Old Testament Scripture indicating the promise of Messiah's wedding day. Perhaps Song of Songs was one such piece. However, Revelation 19:6-9 is so very exciting to me; to the point of bringing anticipation goose bumps.

Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like a roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:

Hallelujah!
For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and be glad
and give Him glory!
For the wedding day of the Lamb has come,
and His bride has made herself ready.
Fine linen, bright and clean,
was given her to wear."
(Fine linen stands for righteous acts of the saints.)

Then the angel said to me, "Write: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!" And he added, "These are the true words of God."

To me, Song of Songs 3:6-11 reads similarly to Revelation 19:6-9, 11-16.

Song of Songs 3:6-11

Who is this coming up from the desert
like a column of smoke,
perfumed with myrrh and incense
made from all the spices of the merchant?

Look! It is Solomon's carriage,
escorted by sixty warriors,
the noblest of Israel,
all of them wearing the sword,
all experienced in battle,
each with his sword at his side,
prepared for the terrors of the night.

King Solomon made for himself the carriage;
he made it of wood from Lebanon.
Its posts he made of silver,
its base of gold
Its seat was upholstered with purple,
its interior lovingly inlaid
by the daughters of Jerusalem.

Come out, you daughters of Zion,
and look at King Solomon wearing the crown,
the crown with which his mother crowned him
on the day of his wedding,
the day his heart rejoiced.

Revelation 6-9, 11-16

(6-9)
Hallelujah!
For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and be glad
and give Him glory!
For the wedding day of the Lamb has come,
and His bride has made herself ready.
Fine linen, bright and clean,
was given her to wear."
(Fine linen stands for righteous acts of the saints.)

Then the angel said to me, "Write: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!" And he added, "These are the true words of God."

(11-16)
I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:

King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

At the end of Revelation, Jesus says, "Behold, I am coming soon! (22:12) And, "Yes, I am coming soon." (22:20)

We are not to know the day or the hour that Jesus will be coming back but, He did tell us how to recognize when it was getting close to His true triumphal return. And we are to live in constant expectation that He will return at any moment so that we don't become complacent and stray from what God has called us to be and do.

Do you see who is coming? Do you see Him returning soon?

During this journaling period, as typical with God when He begins to speak through His Word to me, I hear supporting and relating Scripture and stories everywhere I turn. In church last Sunday, because of the 4th of July, we sang the Battle Hymn of the Republic. Amazing how it related... yes, I see Him coming soon!

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord:
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword:
His truth is marching on.

Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.

I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps,
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps:
His day is marching on.

Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His day is marching on.

I have read a fiery gospel writ in burnished rows of steel:
"As ye deal with my contemners, so with you my grace shall deal;
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with his heel,
Since God is marching on."

Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Since God is marching on.

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment-seat:
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet!
Our God is marching on.

Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Our God is marching on.

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,
While God is marching on.

Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
While God is marching on.

He is coming like the glory of the morning on the wave,
He is Wisdom to the mighty, He is Succour to the brave,
So the world shall be His footstool, and the soul of Time His slave,
Our God is marching on.

Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Our God is marching on.

Ephesians 5

Taking apart chapter 5 to understand the context and meaning of this chapter

5:1 – Be imitators of God

• What are some relating Scripture verses that speak to God’s character and think of how we should imitate Him
• Write out a translation of 5:1

Dearly loved children – Beloved children

• A friend made a point in Family Group (Jason) that we get upset when people don't respect us because we're wanting that person to love us fully when in fact the person is incapable of loving us fully. However, God loves us fully and yet we ignore that love or take it for granted or devalue it
• How does this thought process make you think about 5:1-2?
  
• Dearly loved = to be loved without condition or circumstance

5:2 …and live a life of love (agapé) just as Christ loved (égapésen) us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

• What does the weight of the unconditional love do to this command?
• What is Paul referring to when he speaks of Christ being a fragrant offering
• Refer to Leviticus 1 through 5 for the offerings/sacrifices especially 4:1-5:13
• Why is a sacrifice a “pleasing aroma” to the Lord?

5:3 – there must not be a hint of sexual immorality…

• Think about what is a “hint”
• Matthew 5:27-32 – remember that an action is not necessary to be sinful
• 1 Timothy 1:10

5:8 – Children of the light

• What does “light” mean?

5:13 – exposed by the light

• What and who are exposed by the light?

5:17 – Therefore do not be foolish but understand what the Lord’s will is.

• What is the Lord’s will?

5:20 …always give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of the Lord Jesus

• Relating Scripture about giving thanks
• What is the meaning of “giving thanks”?

5:21 – Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ

• What is the essence of this if Christ submitted to God by doing God's will over His own?
  

5:22 – Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord

• What is the Greek word and meaning for ‘submit’?
• How does a wife submit to her husbands as to the Lord?
• What does ‘as to the Lord’ mean?

5:25 – Husbands love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her…

• What Greek word and meaning is the word ‘love’ in this verse
• How did Jesus love the church?
• How did He give Himself to the church?
• What should a husband do for his wife; how should his love appear?

5:25-29

• Read through the entire portion of Scripture
• What does this command look like?
• What is the husband doing with his wife?
• Is this immediate or over a period of time?
• Think about cleansing with water
• Think about truth
• Look at Genesis 3 and see what happened to this husband and wife
• Why is Paul championing this command placing so much emphasis on the husband’s role

5:26

• What is the reason for marriage?

A Salmon Bagel with God

A journal entry about answered prayer, predestination, encouragement and the Church working together as the Body of Christ

On Mother’s Day, I had a salmon bagel for lunch… and I ate with God.

It seemed to be an ordinary day outside of it being Mother’s Day. Chauncey was traveling home from a business trip, spending the weekend with a friend, so unable to be with me. My daughters had traveled with a friend of theirs back to Kentucky so she could see her Mom; they weren’t able to come to visit me for Mother’s Day. Truly, I was happy because Chaunce was sharing a weekend with a dear friend and with an opportunity to share about God with his friend. The girls didn’t want their friend to drive the 14+ hours alone through areas hit by the recent tornadoes, it had been months since their friend saw her Mom and we had all just been together the weekend prior. My family was living for God and that was a Mother’s Day gift for me in my mind. Plus, it meant I got to rest and I so wanted to rest.

Following church, I wanted to treat myself to a salmon bagel which is a real treat for me. Having just spent a bunch of money on my business related items, Lauren’s graduation weekend, and Chauncey’s business trip I was feeling guilty about going for a bagel nearly talking myself out of it. Finally, I decided to simply go enjoy a bagel.

It was chilly in the restaurant and gorgeous outside, so when my bagel was ready I took the little tray outside to sit. As I was exiting the restaurant, a woman in a pretty blue dress was getting ready to walk into the restaurant. I held the door open for her and she commented on my bagel asking what kind it was. Telling her it was yummy, she said she would order a salmon bagel too.

The sun was warm, the air dry, and it was lovely outside. While munching on my bagel, I heard my phone buzz telling me an email had arrived. It was my co-worker Greg who helped me get my current job and has been a true friend over the last few years. He and I had exchanged emails recently because I was praying for his 12 year old nephew who had suffered a sudden and unexpected grave illness. Earlier that week, as Greg shared how he and his family were able to literally see God’s hand orchestrate events around his nephew’s illness, Scripture had come to mind. Feeling compelled to share as encouragement, I emailed a verse and my relating journal entry about foreknowledge and predestination. The email was Greg’s reply telling me more about God’s assistance, how it had encouraged him, and to tell me that the very Scripture I had shared was the very one his sister-in-law was reading in the hospital beside her son’s bed. Greg went on to say that his sister-in-law’s priest remarked when she told him which Scripture she was reading as the one he was considering on using that weekend. Greg said when appropriate, he would share that verse and journal entry with his sister-in-law hoping it would encourage her, too. Coincidence? Not in my book.

I sat amazed… God is simply amazing. I couldn’t deny God bringing Scripture and reasoning to mind when Greg and I spoke earlier that week. I was concerned about “sharing Scripture” at a time like that because hard times don’t always call for some Christian to throw verses at you. Instead, hard times call for a member of the Church to come along side you, encourage you, hold you up, cry with you, sit with you, hug you. But, I asked God and felt compelled to share this time. Perhaps because it was not a direct share with the wounded person but with someone close to the wounded. God knew, in fact God foreknew. The result? Everyone was calling to mind the same verse. Everyone was seeing God’s handiwork. Everyone was acknowledging God as the sustainer of life. I was amazed God allowed me to have a role (albeit a tiny role) in this time and I was relieved I followed His lead.

Fixed on the email, I didn’t realize that someone was standing near me. Looking up I saw the woman in the pretty blue dress carrying her salmon bagel. She asked to join me and I was happy to have the company. Sitting down, here’s were the encounter blew my mind.

My blue dress, salmon bagel eating new friend named “Sue” is a few years older than me. Within seconds of introducing ourselves to one another, she asks if I’m a Mom. I tell her yes and briefly tell her my family is out sharing the day with friends. Returning the question, I ask Sue if she’s a Mom learning then that she lost her daughter, her only child, a year ago Easter. Seems her daughter fell gravely ill on Good Friday 2010 and by Easter morning, Sue had to make the very difficult decision to discontinue life support. My heart just ached for her and swallowing became very tough indeed.

Our conversation immediately went to God. Not just a where was God in all of this but Sue knew God, relied and continues to rely on God. We had a deep conversation about the realities of God, His truths and who we are on all of those truths on a daily basis.

As she talked, she told me that prior to her daughter falling gravely ill, Sue had planned a vacation out west. After her daughter’s death, there was a long time before Sue would be able to receive her daughter’s body for burial. Sue’s clients were also reacting to the death in a way that wasn’t supportive to her. So reluctantly, Sue made the decision to go forward with the vacation using it as a time to heal.

She told me about literally hearing God speak to her while away and was relieved when I believed that she in fact heard God speak. Without telling my entire Valerie story, I told Sue I too had literally heard God speak one day. (I will have to share the entire story with her one day.)

Earlier that week, I had an email exchange with my Mother-in-law about another friend whose daughter lost her leg in a tragic jet-ski accident Easter Sunday. Also relating the story about Greg’s nephew, I had commented that both families were acknowledging God’s provisions, presence and comfort throughout their ordeals. My comment to Betty was that I had admired their testimonies but certainly wasn’t up for that kind of test because to pass that test meant it was at the expense of your child. I concluded with the fact that God knew better about the sacrifice of a child so thankfully He could truly relate to those families.

Now I sat across the table from my new friend listening to her story, hearing her strong faith, acknowledging her undeniable witness, sharing in her tears about the loss of her precious daughter. She said when her daughter passed on Easter Sunday, a nurse told her that another mother lost her son on Easter Sunday 2000 years ago. Somewhat cold as the comment sounded, Sue said it brought comfort to her and she related to Mary’s struggle on that day. I now related the conversation I had earlier that week with my mother-in-law to reinforce that God knows intimately what Sue went through.

Once again Scripture and stories were brought to mind as I listened to my new friend. It was obvious to me that Sue had the eternal choice in front of her; the choice we all face. She could have either chosen God relying on Him for her strength to carry her through this time or she could have walked away from Him blaming God for everything that happened. Sue chose God and her story encouraged me because, at that moment, I was struggling with the sincerity of my faith with God. She was encouraging me as only God can do through the Body of Christ His Church.

Not wanting to sound cold or superficially Christian, I quietly asked God to help me share what He was bringing to mind. The Scripture – Romans 8:28-30. The stories were my relating journal entries about foreknowledge and predestination and Job’s honor. I shared with Sue that God foreknew she would be going through this ordeal and, because she chose Him, He predestine the time away which became a time when she heard God speak to her. I told her that what she went through now became a way she could touch others to provide meaningful comfort as only she could relate; she could share God’s comfort with others, tell them how God understands and is there for them as He is for her. She could teach truths in their context, her context, God’s context. That because she chose God over not choosing God, and that He foreknew she would choose Him, He has now predestined what she went through would be used for her good, others’ good and His glory. She has been honored – an honor I cannot imagine nor do I want but so, so admire and respect. An honor that now encouraged me.

We finished with Ruth and asked God that He grant Sue the blessings of family Naomi received from Ruth’s loyalty. We prayed that God grant Sue some rest from further ordeal and bring her family, as only He can do. Sue so wants family.

We hugged, exchanged contact information, and went our separate ways. We knew full well that God had ordained our meeting and sharing. We couldn’t deny it. Two complete strangers, sharing lives with God over a salmon bagel on the sidewalk of a little bagel restaurant, only God can do that. So on Mother’s Day, I had a salmon bagel with God. And it was one of the best bagels I have ever had.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

November 20, 2011 - Update

Today, I drove passed the bagel shop and thought of "Sue" and God pressed upon me to call her. On the other end of the line, Sue answered. I said, "This is Rose; we met Mother's Day and shared salmon bagels." She remembered and was happy to hear from me. I told her that I had passed the bagel place, thought of her, wanted to hear how she was doing and to tell her that I have been praying for her regularly since we met. She said our meeting was definitely divine intervention because that day she was really low and hurting. Sue asked what I had been praying for and I said family - that God would provide her family she could call her own - a daughter, grandchild and surrounding family.

That's when Sue said, "Wait until you hear what's happened to me!" The short story is that she too had been asking God for a (surrogate) daughter - someone who needed a mother and would be her daughter - and a grandchild. Sue now has a daughter - a women from the former Soviet Union who moved here marrying Sue's late daughter's husband. They have a little five month old baby boy who adores Sue. This new daughter had been praying, before leaving her country, asking God to provide her a (surrogate) mother in the States; someone to share her life with as mother and eventual grandmother. Sue is a practicing psychologist. Her new surrogate daughter is working on her PhD in psychology. Sue's son-in-law and his family are thrilled to have Sue remain in their lives and everyone lives here in town. Her son-in-law's mother exclaimed, "We finally get to be grandmothers together," Sue shared.

The woman on the other end was full of life. She was giddy, laughing, praising God for the gift of family He granted and blessed her. I was laughing, tears streaming down my face, so happy for her. What a testimony she has!

Although we both know that God is in the business of answering prayers, we were both so amazed that He did and did so graciously and generously. Sue is now telling everyone about God and her answered prayers. While I was on the phone with her, Sue passes the phone to her sister after asking me to tell her about my prayers for her.

What also amazed us is the three of us were praying for specific family without either of us knowing we were praying for the very same thing. Sue's surrogate daughter was praying for a surrogate mother and grandmother before leaving her country. Sue was praying for a surrogate daughter and eventual grandchild. Unknown to Sue, I was praying for a daughter, grandchild and loving family for her. Just absolutely amazing... God blows my mind!

We remembered that we were likening Sue to Naomi from the book of Ruth. With these answered prayers, Sue really is Naomi.

Prayer... a conversation with my Dad

The Lord’s Prayer is the Disciple’s Attitude towards Prayer

My Pastor Max has begun a series on prayer and he began with “The Lord’s Prayer.” Max said this prayer isn’t meant to be said verbatim, as is, but was more of an instruction as to the frame of mind for prayer; what should come to mind when you pray; what you should be focusing on in your mind and heart so your prayer aligns with God’s Will.

The Disciples, the students of Rabi Jesus, asked Jesus to teach them how to pray in the manner they witnessed Jesus praying. (Luke 11:1) Jesus responded by teaching them how followers of God should speak with God; this was not a prayer to God but an example of how to speak with God. I had heard this taught years ago so I’m always excited when other teaching pastors repeat those lessons as it is verification that the original teaching was trustworthy.

As part of my personal studies in 2004, I had written out the Lord’s teaching on prayer so I could understand what Jesus was teaching and then apply it to myself. Using Matthew 6:9-13, here is what I wrote and recently adapted again; I continue to evolve its meaning as God continues to teach me.

Our Father in Heaven Hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, As we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.

My Dad in heaven, Your name alone is Sacred and Holy; help Your name be sacred and holy to me. Let your authority, rule and reign come now, start here with me now, on earth as it is in heaven. Provide for me, today, what you know I need; help me to be content with and appreciative what you’ve provided; Help me to rely on only you for my needs and not myself. Because I continue to place myself above You and sin, please forgive me of my sins; And forgive me using the same measuring rod in which I forgive others. Don’t allow me to let go of Your hand and wander off into something tempting; Continue to hold me tightly to You and lead me keeping me on Your path and away from the evil one.

When I looked at what God taught me beginning in 2004, I realized He is teaching me something about the attitude of my heart when I pray. Where is my heart? What am I asking for? Do my heart and my desires align with God’s will and desires? Am I just rambling on about useless things? Am I being earnest? Am I being respectful and appreciative of God?

I try to keep in mind that if my prayers are taking a long time to be answered, I must not be aligned with God’s will. I must now examine my heart and ask God to align me with Him so my prayers will be heard. Sometimes, the time it takes to answer prayer is the time it takes to get me into the right attitude through revelation, confession and surrender. During that time, I am to continue to Ask, Seek and Knock. (Matthew 7:7-12) During the time it takes for God to answer my prayer, I am to continue to ask and reverently ask, seek and reverently seek, knock and reverently knock. Meanwhile, God my Father – my Dad – continues to knock on my heart, continues to seek and reveal to me the intentions of my heart, so I can be real with Him and He can deal with me. And when I hear Him and answer the door, He comes in and has a meal with me. (Psalm 7:9; 1 Chronicles 28:9; Revelation 3:20) We sit together; I listen to Him, we reason, He feeds me, He cares for me. That's prayer.

Prayer to me is an intimate, two-way conversation with God, my Dad. The result is my conversation begins to mimic His and I begin to learn to follow His lead.

Foreknowledge or Predestination

Journaling from 1/31/2011 through 2/13/2011 resulting from a discussion I had with Chauncey and one of our young men from Emerging Men Family Group. Thank you, Chauncey and David, for the discussion.

Sometimes I begin thinking this faith journey, this life, could be one big puppet show or cosmic chess game. If the idea of predestination starts rolling around in my thoughts then leaping to the conclusions that God is a master puppeteer or that we’re simply pawns in His chess game can become an easy conclusion. However, those thoughts and conclusion are not based on the reality and truths of God Himself and His Word. So in order to have a correct view of foreknowledge and predestination and what it all means, I have to go back to Scripture to Have His Word define who God is and how we as His children fit into foreknowledge and predestination.

First of all, none of this discussion or understanding of foreknowledge and predestination affects my salvation, my eternal destination or what I’ll be doing for eternity. God’s promise of salvation is His ability to keep me from eternal separation from God provided through the payment in-full made on my behalf by Jesus’ surrender to God, not denying the truths of God, His death and resurrection. His promise has nothing to do with whether I understand foreknowledge and predestination. He made a promise and since He cannot deny Himself or His truths – God cannot deny who He is – then God will not go back on His promise to me nor make it conditional to anything that follows the acceptance of that promise. God is able to keep His promise and it’s not conditional on whether I can keep it. So I am sure in God’s promise to me.

When I pass from this life to the eternal promised life of God and God gives me my purpose to do for eternity, whether I understand foreknowledge and predestination will not impact that assigned purpose. Instead, God will assess what I did with my life after salvation and, through His wisdom He will determine what I am capable of doing in His eternal kingdom. How I live out my belief now will factor into God’s assessment of me. (Matthew 25:14-30) Am I good with the little things? Do I live out my faith when no one is looking but God? Do I live out my faith during struggles when everyone around me would understand if I didn’t follow God? Do I live out my faith when life is easy and I can easily forget God? Those are the things that I believe God will judge my capabilities as He determines what my role will be in eternity.

So to me, understanding foreknowledge and predestination is an exercise in reasoning about God and with God. (This is what I love about God; He wants us to reason with Him – Isaiah 1:18 – “Come now, let us reason together.”) To me this exercise is a process like this: “If God is this, and God is this, and God is this, then foreknowledge is this and predestination is this.” To me, understanding foreknowledge and predestination as defined by God’s character helps me better understand and appreciate God for who He is. I learn more about God through this process; this isn’t about where I am in being predestined.

Typically, I start reasoning by acknowledging God’s character; how He defines Himself. In this exercise, I start with God is:

• Omnipresent – present in all places at all times
• Omniscient – having infinite awareness, understanding and insight; possessing universal or complete knowledge

Jeremiah 1:5
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nation.

Psalm 139:13
For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb.

Psalm 139:16
Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.

We know that God knew everything from the start of what we call 'time' through to the end of this world. He is the Alpha and the Omega; the first and the last. He knew before He created anything who would choose Him as God and who would not, yet He created all of us and calls all of us. He is patient, wanting everyone to turn around from being self absorbed, turning to Him for salvation from an eternity without Him. (2 Peter 3:9) He calls and continues to call. He seeks us and continues to seek us. He knocks on our hearts and continues to knock. He asks us to do likewise. (Matthew 7:7-8)

He loves us unconditionally. We can easily see this every day simply lived out in perfect view of everyone. (Matthew 5:45 – He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends the rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.) If God’s love was conditional on whether we chose Him as God and Lord or not, and if He has the omnipresent and omniscient knowledge to know who will ultimately choose Him as God before He created us and we breathe our last breath, then He would bless only those that choose Him, follow Him, serve Him and love Him. But He doesn’t and we see His unconditional love lived out every day when we simply look at the weather.

We see the sun shine on everyone and we see the rain rain-down on everyone. We don’t see little dark clouds blocking out all sunlight on those who will ultimately deny God as the one and only living God. We don’t see rain falling on those who choose God with drought on those who deny God. On the flip side, we also see God allowing disaster and things that hurt us happen to those that love Him as well as those who do not. So we see God unconditionally bless everyone by His love and provisions no matter what our actions towards God will be. And He allows life to happen to all of us.  His love for us is NOT conditional upon our love for Him. He created each person and gave each person a life. What we do with that life, how we view God and how that view shapes our actions here on earth that is up to us. That is called free will. A loving God gives free will. An unloving God would dictate our lives to us.

Instead, I marvel at the depth of God’s love that He still chooses to create those that will ultimately deny Him. He chooses to call those who will ultimately deny Him and He patiently waits giving each person the opportunity to choose Him and live or deny Him and die. I can only imagine the pain God has for those that deny Him as He loves those people as much as He loves those who love Him.

So, what about foreknowledge and predestination? Which comes first? I believe that because God foreknows us and foreknows the ones who will love Him, He now predestines – orders, determines – what that person will need in order to live for Him. I do not believe that God predestines who will select Him, then creates us and we humans wander around life being controlled by what God predestined us to be. That’s not a loving God to me nor do I find that explained in Scripture.

Instead, I again look to Scripture to define this exercise for me.

Romans 8:28-30.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called to His purpose. For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He (Jesus) might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.

To me this passage of Scripture says a few things:
1. First, God foreknew – He didn’t predestine first; He foreknew us first – He knew before He created us, who would love Him and answer His call
2. Second, those God foreknew would accept Him as God, He predestined to be conformed into the likeness of His Son Jesus the Christ; to me this simply says that God plans to develop us into mature people who will represent Jesus the Christ here on earth – not be Jesus but be like Him
3. God calls those who will accept Him and continues to call us until we accept Him even though He knows when and how we will accept Him
4. He justifies us upon acceptance – He shows us to be right by His standards, in His eyes; when we accept what Jesus did for us as sufficient to pay our debt to God, for not living the perfect standard of God, God justifies that acceptance
5. He glorifies us – as we are conformed into the likeness of His Son, we are moving from glory to glory; we are growing more and more Christ-like in character as we mature in our relationship with God through the ability of Jesus empowered by God’s Spirit

So then what is predestination? To me predestination now becomes something God imparts to us – those that love Him. What He imparts helps us through our lives – the good, the bad and the ugly – working all things to our benefit so as we live through it we are conformed more and more into the likeness of His Son.

And what might be those things that God imparts to us that help us through life so that we become more like Jesus as we grow closer to God? I believe those things are the gifts of the Holy Spirit because God foreknew what we would be facing so He predetermined what abilities and assistant we may need to live life. And as we live life with the gifts of the Holy Spirit being conformed into the likeness of Jesus, what will we see as proof this process is happening? The fruits of the Holy Spirit and those fruits are the very characteristics of God Himself of which Jesus the Christ was the only single human being to ever live those characteristics out while here on earth… being conformed into the likeness of Jesus.

So, because God is omnipresent and omniscient, He foreknew I would choose Him as God, accept Jesus as my Savior and submit to Him as my Lord. He knew what actions I do and thoughts I would have – even the sinful, selfish, evil thoughts resulting in sinful, evil and boneheaded actions. God predestined what I would need to live out my life so that as I live out my life I may be more and more conformed into the likeness of Jesus. I know this is happening because I see myself exhibit from time to time and now with more growing regularity the characteristics of God that are beyond my capabilities. Patience, love, self control, peace...

Foreknowledge then predestination.

Most of all, this exercise in reasoning only better defines God as a God of unconditional love, with abounding patience, tolerance and generosity beyond anything I ever deserved.

I Love the Old Testament

I love the Old Testament; in fact, Leviticus is one of my favorite books. When I read the Old Testament, I've learned to look at what I see and don't see in the text. What's happening? What's not happening? What is God's reaction? What is He saying? What are His chosen people doing? Is it right in God's eyes, with the people's actions lining up to God's Word? If not - which many times the actions of His people are so not right - then why is it in the Old Testament? What am I learning about God and how does what I learn apply to me today and now?

In 2001, I spent months in Leviticus. When I was done, I cried. Not because I was now some holy, spiritual person but because of what I saw: God chasing His kids wanting desperately to live with them in their community. All of His commands were to show a people, who just spent 400 years in slavery not knowing the basics about living in a functional community, how to live in community. God provided protection to His kids so that He could descend and live right their in the dessert with them. For 40 years, He chose to live in a tent with them providing a means for continual protection so they could live in the presence of a His righteousness. Without His protection being liberally and continually provided, His kids couldn't stand in His presence and would die because of being unholy in front of THE Holy One. And in the end what did those protection steps provide... a meal. A meal to be shared in fellowship with God Himself.

I thought then and think now, how many times has God chased me, loved me, provided for me, forgives me and I ignore Him. Yet, here is God wanting to be my Dad to simply live with me and I with Him.

Time and time again in the Old Testament (like today) God's chosen people do "evil in His eyes" never doing what is right or seldom doing what is right. Seeing God mightily move - literally seeing God demonstrate His power in mighty ways - yet moments later choosing not to follow God and many times creating a "god" from some materials then giving their lives to that thing they created. (I still do this.) Time and time again, I see God's patience, grace, forgiveness and unconditional love. To me, the Old Testament is the New Testament God in action. I have no trouble connecting the God of the Old Testament with the God of the New Testament because, in fact, He is the very same loving and forgiving God.

With that, here are a few things I have noticed previously and again today when reading Exodus. Simple actions that could go overlooked but God caused me to pause then He revealed when I asked, "Why this?"

Exodus 29:19-21, 29
(19-21) Take the other ram, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on its head. Slaughter it, take some of its blood and put it on the lobes of the right ears of Aaron and his sons, on the thumb of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet. Then sprinkle the blood against the alter on all sides. And take some of the blood on the alter and some of the anointing oil and sprinkle it on Aaron and his sons and their garments will be consecrated.
(29) Aaron's sacred garments will belong to his decedents so they can be anointed and ordained in them.

This sacrifice is the final of three during the consecration of Aaron and his sons as the priests of Israel. The laying of hands on the head of the animal is to symbolize the transference of sins to an innocent substitute. This final ram has sections of its meat that will be the meal provided by God to feed Aaron and his sons. The sections are the best cuts of meat, not the worst which tells you something about our God, and they eat it in the presence of God... a meal with God. I always think that is so amazingly cool. God could have had Aaron and his sons eat the meal somewhere else but God says for them to eat it with Him. Dinner with God. Meat, bread, wine.

The blood of this ram is placed onto Aaron's and his sons' right ear lobes, right thumbs and right big toes. As priests, followers of God Almighty - El Shaddai - and leaders of God's people, they are to:

Ear lobe = listen to God
Thumb = do God's will
Toe = walk in God's way

I always thought it was crazy for God to be so specific to Moses concerning the creation and construction of the priestly garments, tent of the meeting, the tabernacle and all of the items and tools, yet the first actions were to cover these items with olive oil and blood of atoning animal sacrifices.

Then God revealed that the garments would reflect the oil of being anointed - chosen - by God to serve as priests and leaders for His people. The blood on the garments were from atoning sacrifices serving as a constant reminder that we His people need atonement for our actions contrary and against God (sin = not meeting God's standard of perfection) so that we can live in community with God - so we can be in His family, He can live with us, provide and share a meal with us - He can be our Dad and we His kids.

Reminders of who we are with God and without Him, who's we are, what we're called to do and who He is.

It's the little things that make me love the Old Testament.

Added July 6, 2011
While praying this morning and thinking about Jesus' enduring the cross for the joy set before Him (Hebrews 12:2), Holy Spirit brought to mind that Jesus died knowing only the truths and the promises of the Old Testament. The New Testament, a testimony to God's plan of salvation through Jesus and the expansion of that plan through His Church, had yet to be written. Jesus knew the truths of God - His unconditional love, His righteousness, His mercy - through the Scriptures of only the Old Testament. He knew God's plan of salvation only through the Old Testament. Jesus knew God so well that He could not deny God, could not deny His truths, could not deny His promises, knew well God's promises for Jesus as Messiah through only the Old Testament. Jesus chose an unjust and unwarranted public death of humiliation over denying God and God's truths through ONLY the Old Testament. Is the Old Testament worth our time to read and listen to God's teachings? Jesus thought so.