Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Oh, Okay, I'll try it ONE MORE TIME...
Take off 10 pounds, train for a marathon, earn a degree, stop eating sugar, go on a budget, quit spending money on things I don't need, look for opportunities to serve others, put myself last and give to the needy -- I'm going to start right now! I've had every one of those goals, and some I've reached, but most I have yet to reach.
We hear lots of New Year's resolutions the first week of a new year, but two weeks from now everything will be pretty much back to normal. Sure, some die hard, committed individuals will persist and attain their goals, overcome every challenge and threat, and excel beyond their imagination. My hat's off to them! However, the media will quit talking about New Year's resolutions, the diet ads will stop running with such ferocity, and the crowd at the gym will thin out in about two weeks.
What's your New Year's resolution, by the way? What's bugging me this year is the growing number of blank journals I seem to have accumulated. Some have been written in more than others, but most are at least three-fourths empty. Yes, I started them and didn't finish a single year of consistent journal writing. I do well at the beginning of the year. I write every day for at least a week or two, but then it lags to once a month, if that, then only on special occasions, but then skipped months in succession takes me to about April, and by then I've lost the thing completely! Eventually it re-surfaces and gets put up on the shelf and that's the end of it. Then I start back up the next January, with fresh determination and will power, but the same thing happens again and again.. I thought blogging would be different, but now this blog has fallen to the same fate of the hard covered journals. Sitting here unchanged for months, I chide myself to feel guilty of neglect, but it just doesn't seem to help. I don't have the motivation to keep writing, yet I really want to. Is there any hope for me?
Putting my thoughts out here for others to read is certainly taking a risk, because now you can see how well I do or don't succeed. It's okay because you are friends and accept me as I am, and I love you for it. On the other hand, when one says a thing publicly, the elements of accountability and expectation are there, so maybe that will help - we shall see.
I feel the need to convince myself of the merits of keeping a journal of some sort. I've done it enough to know that looking back a year, or as far back as a decade or two, I see growth, and see things about myself I clearly didn't at the time I wrote the entries. What value is there in 20/20 hindsight? Plenty, in reflecting on a mistake that kept me from making it twice, or admitting a bad decision or painful regret that produced real change. Looking back brought healing, self forgiveness, encouragement and hope for better things and days to come. Written memories, complete with descriptions of people I love and places where I was filled with many sensations bring back heart-warming experiences. Conversely, writing and reading about hard times, difficult or unpleasant experiences helped me to feel victorious. I survived and am a better person because of what happened. According to Dictionary.com decathect means; to detach emotion from the idea, person or thing, and often writing about emotions releases you from its power to hold you captive.
Knowing the benefits of keeping a journal or expressing myself in a blog doesn't solve the problem of self-discipline or neglect. The blank and empty pages and what they represent needs some kind of evaluation. Did something actually happen that was worth writing about? The missing entries represent many things, I'm sure. I was a busy wife, mother, student, full time worker and involved in family life, church life and community life in ways I can't possibly remember in detail after all these years. That's all different now. I have more time to do things that take effort, even painstaking things that often fall off a busy plate, like writing. Truly life is too short not to have things you want to write about every day, so I aim to do better. I believe I have found something worth writing about in 2012, so stay tuned. I'll begin next week, after my first meeting. You have permission to nag me if you don't see an entry!
We hear lots of New Year's resolutions the first week of a new year, but two weeks from now everything will be pretty much back to normal. Sure, some die hard, committed individuals will persist and attain their goals, overcome every challenge and threat, and excel beyond their imagination. My hat's off to them! However, the media will quit talking about New Year's resolutions, the diet ads will stop running with such ferocity, and the crowd at the gym will thin out in about two weeks.
What's your New Year's resolution, by the way? What's bugging me this year is the growing number of blank journals I seem to have accumulated. Some have been written in more than others, but most are at least three-fourths empty. Yes, I started them and didn't finish a single year of consistent journal writing. I do well at the beginning of the year. I write every day for at least a week or two, but then it lags to once a month, if that, then only on special occasions, but then skipped months in succession takes me to about April, and by then I've lost the thing completely! Eventually it re-surfaces and gets put up on the shelf and that's the end of it. Then I start back up the next January, with fresh determination and will power, but the same thing happens again and again.. I thought blogging would be different, but now this blog has fallen to the same fate of the hard covered journals. Sitting here unchanged for months, I chide myself to feel guilty of neglect, but it just doesn't seem to help. I don't have the motivation to keep writing, yet I really want to. Is there any hope for me?
Putting my thoughts out here for others to read is certainly taking a risk, because now you can see how well I do or don't succeed. It's okay because you are friends and accept me as I am, and I love you for it. On the other hand, when one says a thing publicly, the elements of accountability and expectation are there, so maybe that will help - we shall see.
I feel the need to convince myself of the merits of keeping a journal of some sort. I've done it enough to know that looking back a year, or as far back as a decade or two, I see growth, and see things about myself I clearly didn't at the time I wrote the entries. What value is there in 20/20 hindsight? Plenty, in reflecting on a mistake that kept me from making it twice, or admitting a bad decision or painful regret that produced real change. Looking back brought healing, self forgiveness, encouragement and hope for better things and days to come. Written memories, complete with descriptions of people I love and places where I was filled with many sensations bring back heart-warming experiences. Conversely, writing and reading about hard times, difficult or unpleasant experiences helped me to feel victorious. I survived and am a better person because of what happened. According to Dictionary.com decathect means; to detach emotion from the idea, person or thing, and often writing about emotions releases you from its power to hold you captive.
Knowing the benefits of keeping a journal or expressing myself in a blog doesn't solve the problem of self-discipline or neglect. The blank and empty pages and what they represent needs some kind of evaluation. Did something actually happen that was worth writing about? The missing entries represent many things, I'm sure. I was a busy wife, mother, student, full time worker and involved in family life, church life and community life in ways I can't possibly remember in detail after all these years. That's all different now. I have more time to do things that take effort, even painstaking things that often fall off a busy plate, like writing. Truly life is too short not to have things you want to write about every day, so I aim to do better. I believe I have found something worth writing about in 2012, so stay tuned. I'll begin next week, after my first meeting. You have permission to nag me if you don't see an entry!
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Rock of Ages Cleft For Me, Let Me Hide Myself in Thee
This rock is at least 4 stories tall, and has a split right down the middle, wide enough for a person to pass through it or to hide themselves in it.
 The rock is a recently documented find, which goes back to several different parties who discovered it searching out the "biblical clues." It has the apprearance and location of being the very rock Moses struck with Aaron's rod, in order for water to flow forth for the dry and weary people following Moses into the desert area of Zin. Read the account for yourself, in Numbers, Chapter 20. Posted here are verses 6-11. NASB 6Then the glory of the LORD appeared to them; 7 and the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 8“Take the rod; and you and your brother Aaron assemble the congregation and speak to the rock before their eyes, that it may yield its water. You shall thus bring forth water for them out of the rock and let the congregation and their beasts drink.” 9 So Moses took the rod from before the LORD, just as He had commanded him; 10 and Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly before the rock. And he said to them, “Listen now, you rebels; shall we bring forth water for you out of this rock?” 11 Then Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation and their beasts drank. |
Go to 2:38 to see where The Rock at Horeb starts. More on its location and other findings are in this video. Horeb is located near the place where Mt. Sinai's true location is gradually becoming the accepted place and is in Arabia, east of the Sinai Pennisula and south of Palestine. This area is now called Jebal el-Lawz, and its location name contains the word "laws." Whoever began calling it that name must have considered what was thought to be there -- the place where the 10 commandments were given to Moses, and written by the hand of God. This area is completely off limits to anyone, and surrounded by high fences, but you can't cover up the signs that point to the truth, and the above video shows them in great detail. Because of the slow speed of the streaming Internet at times, you may find it works better to go directly to YouTube to watch, or choose a time of day when the traffic isn't as heavy. If you search on youtube or google keywords like "Split Rock at Horeb" or "True locatioin of Mt. Sinai" you'll find a great amount of information on the subject, including a movie soon to be released called the Exodus Conspiracy. (this link takes you to the website.) Although a believer doesn't need evidence like this in order to know that God is true to his Word, these "signs" point to the inerrancy of scripture and in fact shed light on information in the text which seems incomplete or hard to understand without actually seeing it. Sadly, many have been brainwashed to believe that the bible is a book of myths, and no matter what evidence they see or hear that agrees with the bible does not change their thinking. To choose atheism or agnosticism is to trust in a mindset that only has man's word to prove it, no matter how scientific it is. Yet in light of recent discoveries e.g. Noah's ark, remnants from Sodom and Gomorrah, the Red Sea crossing - chariot wheels from Egypt's 18th dynasty period recovered from miles of the sea floor, and many, many other discoveries, it shows that the LORD, and His Word stand the test of time and truth. These findings lend credence to the historical record, such as the bible, and works of Flavious Josephus, who lived at the time of Christ, and of many contemporaries in our day, such as Jim and Penney Caldwell, who have been allowed to make some remarkable discoveries. May "eyes to see" be given them, whose faith in a godless, chaotic origin be challenged as they watch videos on these subjects and reconsider what these finds truly mean to faith in God. What is the significance of water from the rock? The Apostle Paul refered to Mt. Sinai's location (and hence, the rock's) in Galatians 4:25, below, where he taught about the two sons of Abraham, and their respective positions as slave and free, referring to the the women who bore Abraham sons. He likened the two women to the two covenants; law and grace. Moses represents the law, and grace is the unmerited favor and salvation that came through Jesus Christ. The rock is a symbol of Jesus, who is the foundation of our faith and the chief cornerstone of the "building" where God dwells now, through the believers, who are the living stones. Out from Jesus side came water and blood, as he gasped his last breaths on the cross, and was pierced by the soldier's sword. This is the prophetc fulfillment of Moses smoting the rock. The water from the rock at Horeb is symbolic of the life giving quality of the Living Water, the Holy Spirit, sent by God to the believer, through Christ, to wash and make clean a vessel for His abode. Jesus shed his innocent blood for the sin of mankind, and by his blood we can be forgiven. We make it personal when we place our faith, or trust in Him, repent of our sins and receive the Holy Spirit as God's seal upon our life. Galations, Chapter 4: 22-26 KJV 22For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 24Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for; the evidence of things unseen." Hebrews 11:1 |
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
The Woman of Samaria
Taken from the Gospel of John, Chapter 4
John's Gospel chapter 4 is the first recorded instance of Jesus declaring he is the Messiah.
He did so to the woman of Samaria.
She wasn’t just any Samaritan woman. Samaritans were hated just because they were half breeds. Women in those days were treated unfairly just because they were women. But this woman had the triple whammy. She replaced husbands like some people replaced thatching on their housetops. She was a Samaritan woman and a swinging divorce' too. Unlike normal townfolk, she did not rise early to fetch water for morning chores, nor did she wait until the end of the day when it cooled down to get water for bathing like most people did. Instead she chose the scorching heat of the mid day sun, just like so many other choices that were burning her recently.
She headed off to Jacob's well, hoping to see no one, and thereby avoid the roving eyes of men, mocking wives, wagging heads looking away in disgust, and the more subtle hints of disdain, like mother’s turning children’s faces away from her smile. It hurt and she’d had enough. Today she was a bit hung over after last night’s wine drenched tryst, slept in too late, and was more parched than ever. The burning heat was causing her head to throb and tongue to cleave to the roof of her mouth. Little did she consider that being thirsty was perfectly God's plan for this exact time on this specific day.
Startled to see the figure of a man leaning over the well as she approached, she almost turned away. He looked up at her immediately as if he knew she might, and asked for a drink of water from her. He had nothing to draw with, but what he did have were the kindest eyes she’d ever seen, and now she couldn’t lower hers fast enough. How embarrassing. Wasn’t it enough that she was a woman and a Samaritan here with him alone? Shouldn’t he just drink the water and leave this second? Yet he seemed to be in no hurry, and eager to talk. He began telling her what she should be asking him for. What kind of talk is this, that a perfect stranger has something to ask for? Now he’s offering her "living water." She’d heard lines that sounded a bit off before, so she laughed it away in disbelief. “That would be so nice,” she said, “not to have to come all this way to get water!” I’m listening, a-huh, she thought to herself.
Then he suddenly got personal. He told her to get her husband! Just hearing him say the word “husband” caused anger to rise on her face, a shudder down her back, and panic that nearly sent her fleeing. He sensed it and then she felt like he was looking right into her heart. In reluctance to answer, she couldn't help notice how earnestly he waited, so she dug deep for a very thin shred of dignity and muttered she didn’t have one. Well it was true, in a sense, since technically she was divorced…at the moment. He immediately corrected her misstatement by stating she’d had five husbands, and the man she “had” now, wasn’t one of them. Who in the world was this man who knew things about her which she didn’t dare think or speak, even to herself? “I perceive you are a Prophet,” she lowered her head, trembling. Then quickly she changed the subject to public worship, much safer, since she didn’t want him asking more personal questions. Ok, get the focus off me, she thought. I wonder what else he knows? As she listened she took a deep breath and as she did she lifted her head and sensed a feeling of calm and peacefulness come over her like nothing she'd ever known. For the first time in her life she felt this is someone I can trust. Only someone with extraordinary authority, grace and love can raise you up simply by being in their presence. He paused, “Those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” She suddenly remembered teachings long since forgotten from childhood, before her father died. He took the family up to the mountain top from Sychar and told his children about God's Son. “One day Messiah, called Christ, will come and establish his kingdom and declare all things!” She shared this memory with the stranger, whom she now considered a true friend. He replied, “I who speak to you am He.” She believed.
Jesus has a way of raising women’s esteem in all his encounters with them. Never is it more appreciated than by those women needing a touch more grace! "He who is forgiven much loves much."
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
How did I get to Hosannah from Hosea?
Have you ever been on a car trip heading to your destination with only oral instructions to get you to a place you've never been? Yikes! You think you remember the sequence of directions after repeating them a few times, but as you drive it out you don't recall whether the stop sign was at the left turn, or after the road turned left. That little detail is enough to throw you and take you down the wrong road. This is true in life too, when you wind up in a place you didn't want to be - perhaps a job, a relationship or a business deal, and you wonder where you took that wrong turn, or how you misjudged circumstances or people.
Then there are times when you knew for sure what you were supposed to do, or not do, but didn't follow through. Look at the history of the Israelites, who had it all spelled out for them, as to what they needed to do, yet how many examples of rebellion were there, which led to severe consequences? Too many to describe here, but Jerusalem was often called a harlot because of unfaithfulness to God. The Israelites ran after pagan gods represented by objects of wood and stone, seeking favor from heathen people and nations, while wicked priests, false prophets and diviners misled the people into thinking it was okay, and caused many to perish. As hearts turned away from God, his glory faded from amongst them, and it was replaced with spiritual deception and blindness. They traded God's favor for captivity and the yoke of oppression. Yet when they turned back to God and repented of their sins, he forgave them and brought them back with his blessing.
God's never ending love and forgiveness is clearly evidenced in the book of minor prophets, Hosea, whose wife Gomer, a literal harlot, committed adultery against him over and over again. She put on her makeup and tramped around town looking for lovers to satisfy the void in her soul. There is a place in the heart, intended for God, which women and men in ignorance, seek to fill, as Gomer did. Ironically, her loving husband, who was called by God to this prophetic and thankless mission, waited patiently for her return home, while caring for their children; some of whom were conceived in sin by Gomer's whoring behavior. Hosea's mandate from God was to be ready to forgive her infidelity, each time she repented. Hosea's steadfast character is Christ-like. For those with eyes to see, Gomer is representative of all who are in rebellion against God; individuals, Christians living in sin, the apostate church could be included, and perhaps it has ramifications for the house of Israel and especially the lost tribes. This website is very resourceful if you want more info on this subject.
The defilement capability of the world's system is ever powerful today and it's rubbing its filth on the church. It's the believer's responsibility to discern heresy, but it takes greater knowledge and application of the scriptures than some of us want to work for in these lazy days of letting others do our thinking for us. When we get our priorities out of order and exalt things above the throne of God, we are committing spiritual idolatry, just as the Israelites did. Putting work, even ministry, appearances or ______ (you're welcome to fill in the blank with any habits, hobbies and entertainments) above devotion to God, it can cause us to be deceived. 2 Peter 2 has more to say about things we can be overcome by, and enslaved to. Yet, if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive them and cleanse us of all unrighteousness. (I John 1:9) There is a caveat here; you may not know your sin if you don't know the Word.
Jesus told his disciples about a King and a coming kingdom, in Luke 19:11-27 just prior to his grand entrance into the Mount of Olives. The triumphal entry into the holy city, as he mounted the donkey, was a significant fulfilment of prophecy about Jesus being the king and anointed one; the Messiah or in Hebrew, Yeshua Ha-Mashiach. (Zechariah 9:9) Jesus's entrance into Jerusalem ties in with the parable of the 10 coins, (some versions call coins talents) recorded just prior in the Luke text, as it poses only two choices: Accept him today as Messiah and King, and receive all his kingdom has to offer at his return, as well as all those he's giving you to bring along into his kingdom. Or be like the wicked servant, who isn't willing to serve him and throws away the only talent he was given on some foolish pursuit, which doesn't fulfill its purpose. The wicked servant receives spiritual as well as physical death, upon the King's return. Now that's a road you don't want to go down.
Here's the Good News: Jesus, the Son of God, paid the penalty for our sin and rebellion, by his death on the cross. The bible is a road map to heaven, so you don't miss the signs along the way. "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." John 1:12
Oh love that will not let me go as sung by Chris Rice
Read more about Hosea and Gomer at Women of Faith
Then there are times when you knew for sure what you were supposed to do, or not do, but didn't follow through. Look at the history of the Israelites, who had it all spelled out for them, as to what they needed to do, yet how many examples of rebellion were there, which led to severe consequences? Too many to describe here, but Jerusalem was often called a harlot because of unfaithfulness to God. The Israelites ran after pagan gods represented by objects of wood and stone, seeking favor from heathen people and nations, while wicked priests, false prophets and diviners misled the people into thinking it was okay, and caused many to perish. As hearts turned away from God, his glory faded from amongst them, and it was replaced with spiritual deception and blindness. They traded God's favor for captivity and the yoke of oppression. Yet when they turned back to God and repented of their sins, he forgave them and brought them back with his blessing.
God's never ending love and forgiveness is clearly evidenced in the book of minor prophets, Hosea, whose wife Gomer, a literal harlot, committed adultery against him over and over again. She put on her makeup and tramped around town looking for lovers to satisfy the void in her soul. There is a place in the heart, intended for God, which women and men in ignorance, seek to fill, as Gomer did. Ironically, her loving husband, who was called by God to this prophetic and thankless mission, waited patiently for her return home, while caring for their children; some of whom were conceived in sin by Gomer's whoring behavior. Hosea's mandate from God was to be ready to forgive her infidelity, each time she repented. Hosea's steadfast character is Christ-like. For those with eyes to see, Gomer is representative of all who are in rebellion against God; individuals, Christians living in sin, the apostate church could be included, and perhaps it has ramifications for the house of Israel and especially the lost tribes. This website is very resourceful if you want more info on this subject.
The defilement capability of the world's system is ever powerful today and it's rubbing its filth on the church. It's the believer's responsibility to discern heresy, but it takes greater knowledge and application of the scriptures than some of us want to work for in these lazy days of letting others do our thinking for us. When we get our priorities out of order and exalt things above the throne of God, we are committing spiritual idolatry, just as the Israelites did. Putting work, even ministry, appearances or ______ (you're welcome to fill in the blank with any habits, hobbies and entertainments) above devotion to God, it can cause us to be deceived. 2 Peter 2 has more to say about things we can be overcome by, and enslaved to. Yet, if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive them and cleanse us of all unrighteousness. (I John 1:9) There is a caveat here; you may not know your sin if you don't know the Word.
Jesus told his disciples about a King and a coming kingdom, in Luke 19:11-27 just prior to his grand entrance into the Mount of Olives. The triumphal entry into the holy city, as he mounted the donkey, was a significant fulfilment of prophecy about Jesus being the king and anointed one; the Messiah or in Hebrew, Yeshua Ha-Mashiach. (Zechariah 9:9) Jesus's entrance into Jerusalem ties in with the parable of the 10 coins, (some versions call coins talents) recorded just prior in the Luke text, as it poses only two choices: Accept him today as Messiah and King, and receive all his kingdom has to offer at his return, as well as all those he's giving you to bring along into his kingdom. Or be like the wicked servant, who isn't willing to serve him and throws away the only talent he was given on some foolish pursuit, which doesn't fulfill its purpose. The wicked servant receives spiritual as well as physical death, upon the King's return. Now that's a road you don't want to go down.
Here's the Good News: Jesus, the Son of God, paid the penalty for our sin and rebellion, by his death on the cross. The bible is a road map to heaven, so you don't miss the signs along the way. "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." John 1:12
Oh love that will not let me go as sung by Chris Rice
Read more about Hosea and Gomer at Women of Faith
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| Used with permission. Go to Cody F. Miller's gallery to see more. Learn more about Cody's "rich and complex message of God" |
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Hope this rocks you like it did me...
Have you noticed any pretty rocks lately? If you walk the beach or gravel road, or keep an aquarium, or child, you probably take rocks for granite - I meant granted; you hardly notice them. But if you've visited the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History and gazed at the Hope Diamond, or other fabulous representations of precious and semi precious gems, you know what I mean by pretty rocks. My interest in collecting and appreciating rocks goes back to childhood, while combing the shores of Lake Superior for driftwood and assorted flat rocks, geodes and volcanic rocks. My collections filled me with wonder about nature and the world and God. In fact a prized possession, which came along with my darling husband, is a huge hunk of limestone, from the Mississippian period, displaying a stunning arrangement of Crinoids.
I opened several bags of small, smooth rocks yesterday, while preparing for VBS (that's Vacation Bible School for any atheists:) as I will be hosting a "Rock Quarry" in the Market Place of our local Nazareth. The same darling husband pointed out this morning, that he picked up one of said bags of rocks, and read "Made in China." Now I understand why some things are mass produced there, but how absurd is it that we have to import rocks from there, too? I've attempted to boycott them various times for civil rights issues, but have you ever tried? I'll tell you that the stone age awaits you. If we'd all done that, perhaps we'd have realized we have plenty of rocks here to sell, or done something productive with them. We aparently aren't making American flag pins either, since all of the ones I've seen say "made in China," so how about we try to find some local raw materials and make our own partiotic symbols and flags? Then, set up a table near the 4th of July parade and sell them as "Made in America." While you're out doing that, pick up some rocks, wash or polish them, bag them up around a pound's worth, tie them in plastic netting bags (like your small red potatoes come in) and put them for sale on e-bay, since aparently there's a market for them. We've got to start somewhere.
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| I'm sure you can do better than this! |
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