Busy As a Bezaleel

“And Moses said to the children of Israel, “See, the Lord has called by name Bezaleel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; and He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom and understanding, in knowledge and all manner of artistic workmanship….and He has put in His heart the ability to teach.” (Ex. 35:30,31,34a)

Reading Through the Bible in 2010 (Ex. 35-37)

This morning when I let Sherman, our collie, out, I glanced at the thermometer and then looked back at it again. “Whoa! It said seventeen below zero!” That seemed chilly even to a died in the wool cold weather person like me. The bad news: it was cold. But the good news was the sun was coming up. That’s the best thing about frigid days in Wisconsin-they are usually sunny. Wisconsinites will tolerate almost any temperature in exchange for a sunny day.

Charlie and I are back up at the lake where I first started writing this blog on January 1^st of 2010. We call our lake house area “Restoration Point” after Psalm 23:3 “He restores my soul.” When we tore down our old cottage five years ago and built the new lake house, we had no idea how many people God would send to us in the next five years.

I took my mug of coffee and sat down IN THE SUNSHINE in my recliner and enjoyed the wintry view. The white snow shone on the lake. The birch trees glistened against the blue blue sky. “It doesn’t get much better than this,” I thought as I reached over and picked up my Bible.

Today’s chapters detailed the construction of the tabernacle. The more I read, the more I saw the name of a man named Bezaleel. He was the grandson of Hur who had held up the arm of Moses while the Israelites fought the Amalekites. He came from good stock, as they say up here. God put him in charge of the whole project to do all that God had commanded for the pattern of the tabernacle. In other words, He took on a lot of work. Verse after verse about Bezaleel says, “He made,” or “Then he made” or “He also made.”

As I read, two things struck me about this man God chose.

One, he was very busy. He did a lot. No vacations on cruise ships or coffee at Starbucks. Just work! Day after day he must have been out there making all those sockets, constructing the furniture for the Holy Place, and working on clothes for the priests. He was busy but he was doing what God had equipped him to do. He had been called by name by God for this work and “God had filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom and understanding, in knowledge and all manner of workmanship.”

The second thing was - God gave him a friend to help him and come alongside in his work for the Lord. His friend’s name was Aholiab and he was from the tribe of Dan. They worked together and in several places, the Bible says, “and they made.” Just as Bezaleel’s grandfather had come alongside Moses, God sent Aholiab to be there with Bezaleel.

I finished reading and noticed our lake log had fallen to the floor. I picked up the little book that said, “Guests”and started glancing through it. As I read I was amazed at all of the wonderful people that God has sent to us here. Our children and their families, a young girl whose mother had recently died, the couples from our “Young Married’s” class at church, friends from across the world, our children’s’ in-laws, on and on. I read their comments and the thanks they had written for the opportunity to be refreshed in the beauty of nature. Over and over they expressed their joy at coming apart for a while to keep from coming apart. Each one who had written was so special to us

I began to apply the comments in the guestbook to today’s Bible reading. Was there work involved in having all these people? Yes, there was. Having guests always involves work. But it was like Bezaleel. The Lord had gone before and equipped us to receive everyone that He sent. We were doing what God made us to do. When I thought about each of them, I didn’t remember the work, I felt blessed by the joy that their presence brought into our lives.

I also thought about how Charlie and I “practice hospitality” as a team. We do it together and cook and vacuum and share ideas as we prepare for our guests. When they leave, we clean up together and reflect on the many blessings that were ours through our conversations and time spent with each one who came. Neither of us could do this without the other.

Are you at a stage in your life where you feel as busy as a Bezaleel? Do you wonder where you will muster the strength for the next stage of your life journey? Just remember, if God has called you, He has already equipped you with His strength and wisdom. Watch for the people He has sent to come alongside you to help and encourage. They are there. He has filled then with special skills and abilities just like Aholiab. He will stir their hearts to help you in many ways. It might be through physical labor or through encouragement or through prayer.

Being called by God to do His work with His people is such a wonderful part of The Joyful Journey.

I closed the log and reflected again on what a joy it is to be able to be as busy as a Bezaleel in SUNNY Wisconsin.

The Banker and the Golden Calf

.“So it was, as soon as he came near the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing. So Moses’ anger became hot, and he cast the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain.” Ex. 32:20

Reading Through the Bible in 2010 (Ex. 32-34)

Yesterday I got bent out of shape. It was over a financial matter and it made me very irritable. The combination of numbers and finances can do that to me. Over the course of the day I sent off two e-mails to the person I was dealing with at the bank expressing my frustration. I was okay with sending them. After all, I have a right to be upset don’t I? I was okay until….

I read my daily devotion from Jerry Bridges. Quoting from it: “What does it mean to love your neighbor as yourself?” (Matt. 22:39) Among other things, this would mean that you never show selfishness, irritability, peevishness, or indifference in your dealings with others. You take a genuine interest in their welfare and seek to promote their interests, honor, and well-being. You never regard them with prideful superiority or talk about their failings. You never resent any wrongs they do to you, but instead are always ready to forgive. You always treat them as you would have them treat you.”

I thought about my e-mails. Were they something I could be pleased about? Didn’t they actually express peevishness and irritability and indifference in my dealings with my banker?

“Well, that’s fine for Jerry Bridges to write in his devotional,” I thought. “But I’m still frustrated!”

When I went to write in my blog, nothing came. It was like God was saying to me, “Before we get on with life, there’s something that needs to be dealt with here.”

I prayed, “Well, Lord. I confess that I displayed sinful behavior and I’m very sorry. But, do you remember that You said, “If we confess our sins, You are faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness?”

“Yes, I remember that,” the Holy Spirit seemed to be saying, “But there is more. There are consequences to your behavior.”

This morning I got up and reread the devotional. I noticed something that I had never noticed before. Written across the top of the heading were the words, “Transformational Thoughts for Your Spiritual Journey.” The God of details strikes again. Aren’t I writing about my joyful spiritual journey?

So, I picked up the phone and called the bank. I apologized for the tone of my e-mails. My banker said, “Don’t worry, I’ve seen worse,” and laughed heartily. We actually had a good productive talk. Whew, saved again by direction from the Lord!

But, I must confess to you, that my aspiration is not to be a little better than “worse.” I want to please the Lord Jesus Christ whose goal is to present me as His bride one day as part of “a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish.” (Eph. 5:27)

What does all this have to do with our reading today?

Aaron and the Israelites blew it big time. While Moses was on the mountain, meeting with God in the cloud for forty days and forty nights, they grew impatient waiting for Moses to come back. So they decided to make God in their own image in the form of a golden calf. God had just written in stone, with His great finger, “No other gods, and no images of gods.”

When Moses and Joshua came near the camp, they could hear the people singing and worshiping the molded calf. Moses became so angry that he threw the stone tablets down and broke them at the foot of the mountain. Why did he do that? It was a dramatic object lesson. Actually breaking the tablets of stone in front of the people symbolized the nation of Israel’s great sin in breaking God’s commandments.

There were many consequences from this sin. A severe reprimand from Moses, a blatant lie from Aaron, a multitude of 3000 disobedient people dead, and even a desperate plea from Moses as he offered himself in their place for God’s atonement – a removal of God Himself as Moses symbolically moved his tent outside the camp. Moses was called back up on the mountain for another forty days and forty nights. Before they could get on with their journey, there was a lot to be dealt with.

In these days of grace, it’s so easy to read this and say, “Those people were so stupid.” But, isn’t it shockingly easy for us to break fellowship with the Holy Spirit through disobedience and willfulness? Just like Jerry Bridges’ devotional. Just like me.

Charlie and I met Jerry Bridges once. We had dinner with him. He was a normal person down to earth and pleasant. He was human just like us. But, the power of the Holy Spirit in his life made me want to be just like him. Thanks, Jerry, for a great devotional reminding us about the transformation God wants to make in us along our spiritual journey.

Golden Bells and Pomegranates

Reading Through the Bible in 2010 (Ex. 26-28)

"a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe all around." Ex. 28:34

I was asked to do the decorations for our writer's group's 25th anniversary in February. Last night I stopped by a local florists because I had a coupon for a plant. "Maybe I can use it as part of the decorations," I thought as I entered the store.

The peace lily that I bought was lovely - and a great buy! The salesperson wrapped it in silver foil and put a wonderful red bow on the front. Perfect for the colors silver, red, and white that we're planning to use!

As I was leaving, I was led to go by the marked down Christmas items on the 75% off table. There were three creations that I thought would go great with our theme. One even had red tulips. Who uses red tulips for Christmas? I bought all three and took them home, delighted with "my finds." But, think about it.

Who had sent me the coupon? Who had prompted me to go to Memorial Florists? Who had shown me the peace lily with one white blossom? Who had led me to the mark down table? Who was smiling at me saying, "Isn't this fun?"

Who else but the God of detail, of course.

How intricate are His instructions to Moses in today's reading. Up on the mountain, for forty days and forty nights, God gave Moses the details about the tabernacle where He would meet with men on earth. He gave him instruction on what Aaron and his sons would wear when they ministered to Him, down to the last detail of Aaron's robe. Pomegranates were to be made with blue and purple and scarlet yarn. They'd be sewn on the hem of the garment all around - "a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate."

The sound of the golden bells would tell those waiting outside the Holy Place that Aaron was still alive and was moving around doing his duties. He would be alive in the presence of God by the grace of God. Like us!

Michael and Christopher brought a pomegranate over the other day. When they enthusiastically cut it open, I was amazed at the amount of seeds in the fruit. Seeds, seeds, seeds! However, with two boys working feverishly, it wasn't long before they had removed them all and were munching away.

Pomegranates symbolize fruitfulness. God would not only meet with men on earth in the tabernacle. He would make His people fruitful. He had promised Abram that his descendants would be as many as the stars of heaven.

I'd love to have seen Aaron's high priestly outfit. It was not only beautiful, but every detail represented something in God's great plan for His people.

On our joyful journey we get to walk hand in hand with the awesome Lord of life's most intricate details. He is concerned with everything about our lives - even buying decorations for a writers' anniversary party.

"A golden bell and a pomegranate" and tulips at Christmas!

Come Up To Me......Be There!

Reading Through the Bible in 2010 (Ex. 23-25)

"Then the Lord said to Moses, "Come up to Me on the mountain and be there;" Ex. 24:12

I love my screen saver! I have it set on "beaches." It flashes the most beautiful ocean pictures across the face of my computer. Palm trees, vast expanses of vivid blue water, white sandy beaches without one piece of litter, and, of course, no clouds - only sun, Every picture has the most awesome light.

This morning I was gazing at the screen longingly when the phone interrupted my reverie.

"Mom," my daughter's voice interjected into my thoughts, "Mom," she said. "I've just got a minute but I have a question. Have you seen the sun in Wisconsin in the last week? We haven't seen it in Illinois since I left your house two weekends ago!"

"Hmn," I replied. "Good question! I think we saw it for about two hours on Wednesday. But then it went under the clouds again. At least it went somewhere. It sure hasn't been back."

"Well," she said, "I was just wondering. Have a good day in the gloom. I'm off to exercise. I guess that's where I'm supposed to be right now."

After she hung up, I glanced at my screen. The beach had disappeared, As I clicked it back on, I thought about our conversation.

"Exercise," I thought. "If the sun were shining and I was on that white sand, I would really feel like exercising. But in dull grey Wisconsin, I don't want to get on my dull grey treadmill!"

Don't we always want to be somewhere else? Sometimes it seems like it requires so much effort and discipline to be in the places where we're supposed to be.

The Lord told Moses to come up to Him on the mountain and be there. Moses had to climb up the whole mountain, God didn't even offer to come down and meet him halfway. He just said, "Be there!"

When Moses finished the strenuous climb, was there an awesome "top of the mountain view?" Actually, a cloud rested on the mountain. A cloud that covered the mountain for six days. On the seventh day, God called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. The glory of the Lord was right there in the midst of the cloud. God talked to Moses on Mt. Sinai for forty days and forty nights. A lot of Exodus is about what God gave him those days in the cloud.

Where has God called you to be? Maybe you're looking around and thinking, "There's a thick cloud around me. Could I leave and go to the beach?"

But when God has said, "Come to Me..be there." We need to be there. Right where He's called us to be. Today may be the sixth day. Tomorrow could be the seventh day - the day the "Son" will appear in all His glory.

Sold or Sent?

Reading Through the Bible In 2010 (Gen. 37-39)

"Then Midianite traders passed by; so the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt." Gen. 37:28

JOSEPH

"I knew I had been sold,
For circumstances
Dark as a desert pit
And dismal as the slaver's caravan
Surrounded me,
And seemed to crush me down;
I had been sold.

I also had been sent.
The circumstance
Shone with the light Divine
And through the wrath of men
God put me in His own appointed place
He set on high,
And none could bow me down.
I had been sent"

M, Mannington


Do you feel like you have been sold? Maybe it's a job loss, a rebellious child, a marriage issue, slander that won't go away, friends that make fun of you in school. When you are "sold" circumstances do seem dark as a desert pit and dismal as a slaver's caravan. When we are betrayed we feel so crushed and life seems so dismal.

Yet as you go through your circumstances, look and see the light Divine that never leaves your side, The wrath of men cannot keep you from the appointed place that He has set on high for you. None can bow you down, because. like Joseph, you have been sent.

The Backside of the Desert

Reading Through the Bible in 2010 (Exodus 2-4))

"Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God." Ex.3:1

It's been said that each of God's true servants must learn the meaning of the backside of the desert.

The desert is such a cruel place. Think of the dangers! Shifting sands, unbearable heat, a dearth of water - how did Moses carry enough drinking water each day anyway? He must have learned to watch every step that his feet (in their toeless sandals) took, because of the ever present snakes and scorpions. What was this compared to the polished tiles of the palace of Pharaoh? Yet, "he kept the flock of Jethro his father-in-law the priest of Midian." As he led his dependent sheep, did he sense in any way that he was being prepared for the greatest leadership challenges that any man would ever have to face?

"The backside of the desert." Lots of spiritual analogies here, but let me give one family illustration because "backside training" comes in many forms.

My great great grandmother, her name was Betsy, made a quilt.

The quilt is a beautiful basket of flowers embroidered on top of an off-white background. The design of her creation is lovely but what amazes me the most about her creation is this background. It is composed of thousands of little white stitches that make up a pattern of their own. Yet, the pattern is so subtle that all you notice at first is the awesome flower design. As I look at the quilt, I think about the steadfastness that it took to stick at making all those little stitches - day after day, month after month. Did she spend many hours alone working on the quilt? I'm sure she did. Were there friends who came alongside to help her stitch? Did they have special times together talking and sewing? Probably. But, yet, everyday she had to face that same background. Up into the spare bedroom to spend lots and lots of hours repetitively sewing little white stitches. How many times did she think, "Why was I ever led to start this tedious quilt?"

One day great great Grandma Betsy finished her background. Then, only then, was it time to emboider the striking flower pattern that everyone would see.

One hundred and twenty-five years later, when I found Grandma's quilt, it was tossed aside in a box in my mother's basement. I pulled it out and it became my companion in many places. Mary and I used it for many years in the biblical seminar "Heritage Home." It became a physical example to thousands of women of how our spiritual influences are passed down through many generations. It hung in our living rooms in Atlanta and Arkansas and Alabama. My son, Ted - five generations later - made a beautiful frame for it and the quilt now hangs in our lakehouse. People all over the country have commented on the beauty of the flowers and how well preserved the quilt is. But I have noticed that they always say the same thing, "Look at that amazingly detailed background!"

How quickly the Bible skips over forty years of Moses' life in the backside of the desert. Like his ancestor Jacob, he faced years and years of drought and cold and sleepless nights watching out for a flock that belonged to someone else. But God was going to entrust him with a much more important flock when his backside training was complete. The leadership and care of God's own people would be given to Moses. It would be embroidered on this desert background. Forty years went by - forty years of "being steadfast and immoveable" before he was ready to lead his little flock to Horeb, the mountain of God. Forty years before God would suddenly appear and call him from a burning bush that "did not burn." Forty years before God said, "I am sending YOU!"


Do you sometimes feel like your life is set is an insignificant background? Do you ever think, "How many diapers do I change? How many times do I wipe these counters? How many days do I take the children to school? How many times do I get the oil changed?" Do you feel like God should be embroidering the real pattern in your life and not doing so much background work? Be faithful and trust Him, like Moses, like Grandma Betsy. One day He will say, "Now, therefore, go. You have learned the meaning of the backside of the desert."

Higher Education

Reading Through the Bible (Gen.22-24)

"Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham," Gen.22:1

"Complete and unwavering faith in God is only accomplished through many trials and over many years. It was "after these things" that God gave Abraham his biggest test. After Abraham had left his homeland and all that was dear to him, after he experienced the results of going to Egypt for food, after Lot had taken the good well-watered land, after twenty-five years of waiting for the promised son, after Ishmael had been sent away, after God had said, "through Isaac your descendants shall be reckoned, after Isaac had nearly grown, "after these things," God tested Abraham's faith." (AB Simpson)

"Lauren," I said, "I heard you are studying for your big tests that are coming up. How are you doing that?"

"Grandma," she answered, "They give you some things that you can use to study for ACT's and SAT's. But, I think it's mostly testing you on what you've learned over the years."

"Testing you on what you've learned over the years." True words. Wise words!

When I started high school physics, I already knew that I didn't know anything about physics. I didn't really want to know anything about physics! But, to get into nursing, I needed the course. It was only after I had studied my book and listened to the lectures and done the experiments, that I could take the final exam. The results of the test showed me that now I knew a little about physics. "After these things" I took the exam. There wouldn't have been much point in testing me when I started taking the course. I already knew what I didn't know about physics.

The life of a believer is a series of tests. The Bible says we go from glory to glory as we're transformed into the image of Christ. God does His work in us as we study His Word, listen to His promptings, and go through His labs. Then He gives us the test. When we've finished does He look at the results of our obedience and say, "Wow! You got an A on that one? I'm shocked!"

I don't think so. He knows our hearts. He knows everything. But we don't. We think we know a lot about life but we don't. Not until we go through His courses taught in His way. Then we get to take our tests. The results show us what we have learned on our latest pilgrimage experience. They don't show God, they show us.

Deut.8:2; "And you shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not."

Lauren did really well on her two big tests. "After these things..." She's been a good student and she has studied hard in school for many years. I wasn't surprised at how well she did, but I wondered if she was? Her good results will give her encouragement for the next steps in her "joyful journey" through life. She will have stronger faith in her ability to learn new things in college.

What if she hadn't done well? What if she'd been sick, or had a bad hair day, or had a flat tire on the way, or couldn't find the place where SAT's and ACT's were being administered? I asked her about that.

She replied, "You get other chances. You can reschedule and take them again. If you feel like you didn't do well, you can retake the tests. But, I'm so glad to be done!"

"You can reschedule!" I laughed because God has rescheduled me on tests quite a few times. I feel like there are some tests that I have taken over and over again. I'm still not sure how well I've learned some of the things He's been trying to teach me.

Lauren's done, temporarily. She can rest from SAT's and she deserves to. She can rest from ACT's but she still has reams of homework every night. She has to finish high school. College will mean more tests. Lots more. In lots of ways. That's the thing about higher education.

I wish I could encourage my granddaughter and say, "Don't worry, when you finish college - no more tests!" The truth is, there is no graduation from tests for the believer, not in this life. God is taking all of us through His "Higher Education"courses. But, one day we will be finished with all of our testing. We'll have gone through the sanctification process. When we reach Heaven and enter our glorification, we will get more than a graduation cap, we'll receive a crown of life!

Tests will keep coming, we can be sure of that. The good news is that they come "after these things." After we have gone through the course. After we're ready to see what we have learned and what has been added to our hearts. What joy we will experience when God shows us our "permanent record" in heaven and says, "Well done. You have been a faithful and good servant. Your tests are over!"

Turning Life's Corners

Reading Through the Bible in 2010 ( Gen.19-21)

"Then he (Lot) made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate." Gen.19:3

"Did Lot even begin to suspect it would be his last dinner in Sodom? So simply, so without observation, do we turn the corner of the road of life but as yet we do not know that we have turned the corner." Amy Carmichael

When I was six years old, my father was in a terrible auto accident. I can vividly remember being in my parents' bedroom, playing on the floor with my 18 month old brother, when the phone rang. My mother answered it and as I looked at her, I watched the blood drain out of her face. I knew that something awful had happened.

When she hung up the phone I questioned, "Mom, what is it?"

She took a deep breath and said carefully, "Your father's car has been hit by a milk truck in the snowstorm. He probably has a broken leg or something."

That night my grandmother tucked us into bed and told us not to worry. I wasn't that concerned because who worries about a broken leg when your grandmother is giving you love and a cookie? But as I munched away and cuddled up in my grandmother's arms, I didn't know that our lives had turned a corner after that phone call. I didn't have a clue. Just like Lot!

It was much more than a broken leg. My father's life hung fragilely, as if it were dangling from a string, for the next month. After it was determined that he would live, he spent five more months in St. Agnes Hospital in Fond du lac. My mother took the train to be with him every morning and she came back on the train to be with us late every evening. My two grandmothers came and took care of Robert and me. Two nights before the accident - we all came to refer to it as "the accident," my father had told me one of his fine stories. Now there were no stories, no father and, most of the time, no mother. Just us and two grandmothers who had very different views on child raising.

But there was joy even in that journey. We got to know our grandparents really well. One day Dad was improved enough that WE could take the train and visit him in the hospital. Staying up late and waiting to see my mom became the norm.

When Dad came home, we were a family again. I can clearly recall sitting on the couch and looking out the window. It was summer now and my father had put a harness around my two year old brother to take him for a walk. He looked like the Tin Woodman jerking slowly along the sidewalk as his child pulled him along. I was incredulous! Is that my Dad? Will he ever look normal again?

He did. It took time-years-but he recovered. He had pins in his leg and a jagged scar on his face. But he pushed through the pain and went on to be a big influence in his grandchildren's lives - living to the age of 84.

Turning that corner taught me a lot about healing and patience and the value of an intact family - something we take for granted until it's not there anymore. It helped me understand what people go through when their families are under huge strains. It was a big lesson on life's journey.

We turn corners unexpectedly. We don't ask to. Usually we don't want to. But they are often just a phone call away and our lives are forever changed. Corners are, and will always be, a part of "The Joyful Journey."

Temporarily In the Office

"Now the Angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness...and He said, "Hagar, Sarai's maid, where have you come from, and where are you going?" Gen. 16:7,8

THERE WILL BE NO BLOG TODAY BECAUSE I AM TEMPORARILY IN THE OFFICE! (That is all I was going to write on my post today!)

This morning Valley Cabinets appeared with my new office bookshelves. It was very exciting to watch them install cabinetry just for me! Just for my stuff! (Charlie said it was even more exciting for him because it meant he was getting more room in his office.)

After the installers left, I spent the afternoon organizing - putting my precious books and photos and CD's away in their new shelves and cabinets. Now I knew where everything was!

Why does being temporarily in the office mean so much to me? Because we have moved so much!!!

Brown cardboard boxes and orange moving vans have been a huge part of our married life. Over the short forty-five years of our marriage, we have lived in South Carolina, Mississippi, Georgia, Arkansas, Connecticut, Alabama, and in several parts of Wisconsin. If you have ever moved, you know that moving throws your life into mislabeled boxes. You think you know where things are, but you really don't. One time I carefully unpacked a box inscribed: "Fragile! Dining Room China!" - only to find a long piece of carefully wrapped dryer pipe.

I shook my head and discarded it. I had no use for dryer pipe!

But now, no more mislabeled boxes! From today forward, a place for everything and everything in its place-unpacked-IN MY OFFICE!

So why is there more on my blog than I had intended?

As I reached up onto an empty shelf, I started thinking about Hagar. There she was, pregnant, fleeing from her mistress in the wilderness, abandoned by her master, Abram. But the Angel of the Lord found her and stopped her up short with His question; "Hagar, Sarai's maid, where have you come from and where are you going?"

It was a theophany. The Angel of the Lord was Jesus and He had found her! He had not only found her but God had a plan for her life that involved a mighty nation. She wasn't a piece of dryer pipe to be cast off as worthless. God knew where she came from and He knew exactly what He was going to do for her.

I know where I came from. I was dead in my trespasses and sins and He found me! I know where I'm going because even though I was dead, God made me alive in Christ! I'm going on to an eternal city whose builder and maker is God.

I am in this office, but only temporarily. As happy as it makes me to "nest" today, it is still for just a little while. But, what euphoria will I feel when I am finally there? What joy will I have when I see the heavenly bookshelves the Carpenter has built for me in the mansion that He has prepared - just for me?

Jesus found Hagar. Jesus found me. Jesus found YOU! He has a plan for our lives just like he did for Hagar's. But one day we're going to be out of our temporary earthly offices and gloriously situated in our permanent custom built heavenly homes
.
While we're still here though, why not keep on keeping on reading through the Bible with me?

Oh, and before you go offblog, say it with me: We are not dryer pipe!!!

Smiling At the Future In the North Woods

"Strength and dignity are her clothing and she smiles at the future." Prov. 31:25 NAS

Our family spent Christmas together at our lake house in the north woods of Wisconsin. Four out of our five families were able to make it up there to celebrate the holidays. Our oldest son, Ethan, couldn't come. He pastors a church in Alaska. Christmas is a big time for churches. so we always miss his family during our Christmas gatherings. But, even without them, we had a week of nineteen of us living together under one roof. A lot came out of that time. Our children are old enough now that I am surprised at how much I learn from them.

I was talking to Katie. She and Norman and their four children are planning a trip to Zambia with the Navigators in June. So I asked her, "Katie, that seems like a lot to take a family of six to Africa. Are you scared?"

She replied, "Mom, Last year I got breast cancer smack dab in the middle of an Illinois corn field. That seems like the safest place on earth. Now I want to live my life to the fullest! We are as safe in Africa as we are in the midwest if we're in the Lord's will. I just want to be where God wants me to be."

I looked at her and realized that God had done a work in her through her cancer. Instead of becoming a fearful apprehensive person, she was "smiling at the future." How does God do that? His ways are so much higher than ours. He really does take our afflictions and make us more like Him if we walk "through the valley" with our hand in His - trusting Him.

"But, Katie! Malaria, AIDS, snakes, your children. You hate spiders!"

I didn't say that. I was ashamed of my own fear. What about me? Have I come through this nightmare of her cancer "smiling at the future?" Or, am I going to shrink back from life in a spirit of fear thinking, "Woe is me, what next?"

When the children were growing up I told them, "Troubles can make you bitter or better. Either choice takes an equal amount of energy."

When we choose to trust God and make the choice to be like the Proverbs 31 woman and "smile at the future," we know that whatever God allows into our lives, He will use to make us better people - and so much more useful to Him.

Thanks for reminding me, my dear daughter, that I believe that. Thanks for teaching me. Onward to Africa!!

Once Upon A Time In the Midwest

Are you a New Year's resolution person? Do you get excited about living in a year that nobody has ever lived in before?

We enter today into the unknown territory that's called 2010. Are you looking forward to this step on your life journey or are you embarking with trepidation wondering what's ahead? I think all of us have a little of both as we start January, 2010.

I am a New Year's resolution person. One of my goals for the upcoming year is to read through the Bible. Being a people person, I'd like to invite you to accompany me on my journey through God's Word this year. Three chapters a day and we can make it.

As I write, I can see the New Year's moon rising over the snow covered lake. A New Year's moon only occurs once every nine years. That makes this year special. Maybe you've been making resolutions for nine years to read through the Bible. Let this be the year that we do it together.

A new moon, a new year, a new blog! And, how about a new trip through the Bible?

There's a wonderful song that includes the words:

"Come on along, it's the song of Jesus,
Day after day, I hear His song."

That's the way I feel about the Word of God. It's His map through life. Day after day, we can hear His song if we read together everyday. His song is the song of joy as we enter the unknown days that await us.

We don't have to enter the new year alone. His word can be the lamp to our feet and the light to our path.

Let's enter the new year together as we read His word everyday.

I'll be reporting in along my journey.

Happy New Year!

Betsy