Thankful For the Truth

"Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:6

When Charlie and I were driving home from Alaska this fall, we stayed in lots of hotels. One night I flipped the remote and who should I see on the screen right in front of me but Billy Grahm himself. It was a rerun of one of his crusades back in the 70's. Behind him was a huge sign with his signature verse, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." As I watched the program, I thought about how many people came to know this verse through Billy Grahm's travels! Today millions are in a relationship with Jesus Christ through God's words spoken by this one man.

Listening to Billy preach brought to mind some memories of my own early years. I was a young girl - like grade school young. There were nights when my mom would send me to bed telling me that I had dawdled long enough. (Were there really days when I avoided sleep?) As soon as my lights were off and I heard her steps receeding down the stairs, I would reach under my bed and pull out my trusty transistor radio. We all had them in those days, the then I Pods of our lives. Pretty soon I would be listening to a fiery young preacher teaching the word of God and imploring everyone who listened to come forward and receive Jesus. I didn't have the foggiest what that meant but I was mesmerized by his way of speaking. I had never heard anybody preach like that. Sometimes I'd fall asleep and forget to turn the radio off.

Many years later, after I came to understand that knowing Jesus was not a religion but a relationship, I remembered that Billy Grahm tried to tell me that way back from under my bed on those summer evenings. "I am the way, the truth, and the light." I still equate those words with my favorite childhood evangelist when I read John 14 in my Bible.

Lots of thoughts come to me, but here's the one I'm going with today. Where would we be without the Bible teaching us the way and the truth and the light? What if God hadn't made the effort to communicate with us through the great love letter of His word? The answer is pretty obvious. We would all be stumbling around in the murky cesspool of darkness that we see around us today. There would be no way to discern our lifetime paths. No way to know what truth looked like. No way to light our travels as we journeyed - to where? "Teach me Your WAY, O Lord, And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies." Ps. 27:11. "And you shall know the TRUTH, and the TRUTH shall make you free." John 8:32 "The entrance of Your words gives LIGHT; It gives understanding to the simple." (That would be me.) Ps. 119:130

This Thanksgiving I have so much to be thankful for. But, chief above all, I'm thanking God for His persistent love that became His wonderful Word to us - the very very Holy Bible.

We've traveled together,

My Bible and I,

Through all kinds of weather,

With smile or with sigh,

In sorrow or sunshine,

In tempest or calm,

Its friendship unchanging,

My Lamp and my song!

So now who shall part us,

My Bible and I?

Shall "isms" or "schisms,"

Or "new lights" who try?

Shall shadow for substance

Or stone for good bread,

Supplant its wisdom sound,

Give folly instead?

Ah, no! my dear Bible,

Exponent of Light!

Thou sword of the Spirit,

Put error to flight:

And still through life's journey

Until my last sigh -

We'll travel together,

My Bible and I!

(Anon)

The Shining "Son"

Reading Through the Bible in 2010 (Proverbs 4-7)

"But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter until the perfect day." Prov. 4:18

The nurse must have had a bad night's sleep. She flipped through my chart and said rather irritably: "Didn't you know you weren't supposed to get pregnant right after your last miscarriage? You should have waited!"

I wasn't a Christian then, but I knew in my heart that this new little life growing inside of me was a gift of God...no matter what the grumpy nurse thought. Taking a deep breath, I smiled at her and said, "It will be all right."

And "it" was. God took care of my baby as we moved from Wisconsin to South Carolina and then to a new home twenty days before he entered the world. He was born on a scorching hot July day, but it was air conditioned and peaceful in the room where I labored - with a good nurse attending me. Later, as I held him in my arms, Charlie and I beamed at this amazing new creation and named him Theodore, a name that means "gift of God."

The years have flown. He is a man now about to send his firstborn off to college. I was watching him at our recent family reunion. He was organizing, encouraging, helping, and keeping us all laughing. As I watched two year old Joseph reach up his hands and call "Uncle Ted, Uncle Ted, pick me up!" I realized again that I had had no idea back in that first doctor's visit, how "all right" this new life would be. The joy and love and comfort our second son has brought to our lives and to the lives of so many is without limit.

Six years years after Ted was born, Charlie and I became Christians. We were drawn by God into a relationship with the true Son of Righteousness, Jesus Christ. As baby Christians, we had no idea of all the things the Son of God would become to us. But as the years have passed, Jesus has been all that His Word promised and so much more. Jesus has proved to be a very fine Savior.

My heart is filled with praise and thanksgiving as I write this morning. Praise for a wonderful Savior and thankfulness for another great son. Happy Birthday, Ted. May this verse bring you hope and direction for your new year of life, "The path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter until the perfect day. May the true Son of God keep shining through you until we reach that perfect day.

In my very prejudiced opinion, forty plus years ago I spoke rightly when I said thusly, "It will be all right!"

Under the Influence

Reading Through the Bible in 2010 (II Kings 10-12)

"Jehoash (Joash) did what was right in the sight of the Lord all the days in which Jehoida the priest instructed him." II Kings 12:2

It was 1979 and Charlie had accepted a transfer to Corinth, Mississippi to be the operation’s manager for a new mill that was being built there. We knew we were supposed to go because we were reading in Acts 18 and the scripture jumped out at us, “Go to Corinth for I have many people there.” God couldn’t be much clearer than that!

Was it hard to leave Wisconsin and family and friends again to go back “down south?” Yes, it was. But looking back, I can see that in our lives there is better and best. This step of faith turned out to be the very best for Charlie and I and our four children. What God had for us in Corinth far surpassed the difficulties of saying goodbye and moving away from our beloved state. He did, indeed “have many people there.”

That became immediately apparent when we attended a church on Sunday morning and liked the preacher so much that we went back the same Sunday night. After the evening service, we went downstairs for a get together. We had no idea that the people we were about to “get together” with would change all of our lives. I was drinking a cup of punch and casually chit chatting with a woman named Lynn. All of a sudden she said, “Have you met Mary and Elaine?” Before I could even answer she disappeared. Soon I spotted her towing two delightful women who both beamed at me with welcoming smiles.

Lynn was right. Mary and Elaine and I instantly connected. It was more than that, it was a knitting of our hearts as all three of us immediately realized that we were kindred spirits in a very deep love for Jesus. Only a week later, I was attending a Monday morning Bible study in Mary’s home, which “happened” to be just a block away from where I lived. Mary taught and Elaine led the singing and I just studied with them and soaked it all up.

Soon Charlie became friends with Sherman, Mary’s husband. They were our southern “Priscilla and Aquilla.” Sherman and Mary loved our children and were spiritual grandparents to them. When Sherman went to be with the Lord six years ago, Charlie was one of the speakers at his “Homegoing Service.” He was so influenced by this Godly man’s life that he named our collie……… Sherman!

When wicked Athaliah became queen of Judah, she immediately destroyed all the royal heirs except for one. While they were being murdered, the daughter of the dead king, Jehoshabeath, rescued little one year old Joash. She secretly hid him in a bedroom with his nurse for six years. (How do you hide a toddler anyway?) Somehow no one knew he existed except Jehoida the Priest who just happened to be married to Jehoshabeath. When Joash was seven, he was made king of Judah after a daring coup in which the throne was rightfully restored to the Davidic heirs. It amazes me that a helpless one year old boy was the sole link that saved the dynasty of David and the very lineage of Jesus Christ. Jehoida the Priest mentored Joash and under his influence Joash “did what was right in the sight of the Lord.” (II Kings 12:2) We are told that he even restored Solomon’s elegant temple to its original condition.

All was good …until Jehoida died. After the death of the High Priest, the true character of King Joash became clear. Joash listened to the ungodly leaders of Judah and turned away from following the Lord. We read that “they left the house of the Lord God of their fathers, and served wooden images and idols; and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem because of their trespass. Yet He sent prophets to them, to bring them back to the Lord; and they testified against them but they would not listen.” ( II Chronicles 24:18,19)

The sad story of King Joash spirals down into incredible depravity. When Zechariah, the son of Jehoida came to warn Joash about his ungodly choices, he killed him. He stoned the son of the man and woman who had saved his life and mentored him. Incredible!

God is so patient and good to us. He sends us many people over the years. We can listen and learn from them or we can reject them. We think we’ll have them forever, but we don’t.

After two years we moved from Corinth to Connecticut. I had a hole in my heart for months and months after leaving Mary. But, we stayed in touch in many miraculous ways over the years. You’ll hear a lot more about Mary in my blog. But, I have to go because we call each other every Monday morning at nine. We talk and pray. Her wisdom and love for Jesus can be counted on to lead me to the highest road on my joyful journey to heaven.

Happy Memorial Day! As we remember the sacrifices of so many veterans for our beloved country, let’s also be thankful for the Godly Jehoidas who have given their lives to mentor us.

The Color Purple

One week ago, we were standing at the intersection of King and Queen Streets in Charleston, South Carolina. As I looked up at the signposts, I turned to Charlie and said, "That sign sure reflects how the Lord has blessed us this vacation - He has been treating us like kings and queens!"

Sometimes on our joyful journey through life we come to places that are so breathtakingly beautiful that we just want to stop and rest and inhale the sights and smells forever. That's how I felt about our trip to this lovely city with its gardens, mansions and fascinating history. I believe that God gives us these times to pause and refresh our souls and experience His creation - to remind us how wonderful it is. In Genesis, He rested on the seventh day and sanctified His work. Acts 3:19 speaks of "the times of refreshing that come from the presence of the Lord."

This trip came about suddenly and unexpectedly. We were both yearning for the colors that April brings to spring in the South. God seemed to open every door so we took off in our RV and headed for Charleston. Sometimes it amazes me how quickly and unexpectedly God brings changes in our journeys. He so rarely does things the way I expect Him to.

When we reached Charleston, we were quickly immersed in the weavings of our past. We lived in Aiken, South Carolina for eight years. We came into a personal relationship with Jesus while we lived there. Three of our children were born in Aiken. Charlie helped start up a new mill nearby in Beech Island for Kimberly Clark. Our oldest son went to college in Columbia and met his wife there. Lots of history, lots of friends, lots of memories. Coming back to Charleston was another colorful thread in the weaving of God's tapestry in our lives.

There was also a theme - the color purple. Everywhere we went, we saw purple - the color of royalty...the color of kings and queens.

We noticed it first in the campground in Mahomet, Illinois. Parked next to us was an RV totally decked out in purple. Every curtain was bright and purple. Charlie looked at it and said, incredulously, "Betsy, I've never seen anything like that!" I agreed.

As we drove to Charleston the redbuds were in bloom. You know what color they are - not red but purple and lovely against the spring green of the land.

The first thing I noticed as we walked through the coastal city was the wisteria. I have never seen such an abundance of purple wisteria. It hung everywhere in huge tumbling masses that beckoned us to come near and smell and savor and linger.

We toured some of the mansions, hotels, and gardens. At the Rutledge Inn, we started talking to one of the desk clerks. He graciously put down his book and shared with us the history of the elegant old hotel. As he spoke I glanced down at the title of his book. It was "The Color Purple!"

On the way home, we spent the night again in the campground in Illinois not far from Katie and Norman's. Katie brought me plants and said, "Mom, here are some pansies I picked up for you. They only had purple."

We arrived home and had a birthday party for ll year old Kayla. My friend, Andrea, gave her a cushy fuzzy blanket. Yes, it was purple!

This morning I sit at my computer and relect on our sweet time. (Wait, maybe it's not quite over. Our purple rhododendrums have started blooming!:) God gave us a pause in our journey through life to reflect and be refreshed, to remember and be surprised again by His goodness. As His children may we all remember that we are the adopted sons and daughters of the Mighty King of the universe. We are all standing in our position in Christ right at the intersection of Kings and Queens Street. And as we are His - we're clothed in purple.

Have a great day. Thanks for staying with me while I was off playing. I'm looking forward to traveling life's "Joyful Journey" with you again - wearing purple, of course! But first, I'm going to read my May "Southern Living" that just arrived. The cover is filled with purple hydrangeas.

The Role of Role Models

Reading Through the Bible in 2010 (Joshua 22-24)

“Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had known all the works of the Lord which He had done for Israel.” Joshua 24: 31

I was ten years old and I was dreading 4^th grade. Older, wiser students had warned me about the austere woman who would be my teacher. As I entered the classroom, my eyes focused on the cursive letters above the blackboard. I was scared to even glance in her direction. But, happy chatter forced me to look around the room - what was so exciting?

There she was! Or I could say, there she wasn’t! I stared incredulously at the young woman smiling at me. There was no sign of the teacher that I had feared. But, who was this? She walked up to me extending her hand. “I’m Miss Jones and I am your 4^th grade exchange teacher from England!”

“And what is your name?” she asked, her direct gaze sizing me up quickly. I was so dumbstruck that I just stood there and stared at her. She was so beautiful and I had never heard a British accent before.

“You must use good manners and reply when I ask you a question,” she stated with a fleck of humor in her eyes. “Now, I’ll ask you again, dear, what is your name?”

I replied, “My name is Betsy.” I could have added, “Did you hang the moon?” I was already that dazzled by this new teacher.

Fourth grade with Miss Jones proved to be a highlight of my life. She was a wonderful teacher who loved us and regaled us with songs and stories of her country. She taught us about the changing of the guard and the coronation of Queen Elizabeth. Her descriptions of Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey made them real places we wanted to visit. Everyone tried to please her – even the behavior of the “awful” boys in the class went up a notch and they learned “God Save the Queen.”

One night she came to our house for dinner. I sat next to her and gazed enthralled while she entered into “grown up” conversation with my parents. The next day I reported every bite that she ate to my enrapt classmates. It’s a wonder that she didn’t waddle back to England; everyone wanted Miss Jones to come and eat a meal in their home.

That year I understood what it means to have a year fly by. In June 4^th grade was over and Miss Jones returned to the British Isles. A light had gone out of my life and my heart hurt. I spent the summer climbing the tree in front of my house trying to go high enough to see England. That fall, our fifth grade teacher had the unenviable job of trying to educate “Miss Jones’ students.” We spent many hours at our desks daydreaming about things that our beloved English teacher had taught us.

But she wasn’t really gone. We didn’t forget her and she never forgot us. Letters were sent across the sea. If we wrote her, she wrote us back. We were spellbound over tales of her marriage to the handsome John. My parents visited Miss Jones when they went to Europe, reporting on the beauty of her village, Henley-On-Thames. They brought back pictures of children - her English students.

Our letters continued over the years. I married prince Charlie and had children and grandchildren. A long time later, when her beloved John died, she wrote me about her broken heart and across the ocean I cried tears with her. After his death, she sent me her favorite poetry book filled with comments written in her smooth cursive handwriting. Two Christmases ago, I opened a package containing a hat and a scarf knitted by my dear teacher - now in her eighties. This Christmas there was a message on my answering machine – her British accent assuring me that she was thinking of me.

Joshua was a wonderful role model for the Israelites. The people loved him and respected him. It is recorded in today’s Scripture that “Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had known all the works of the Lord which He had done for Israel. (Josh. 24:31)

Who can measure the influence in our lives of the people we admire? They spur us on to be like them. They give us incentives to be all that God made us to be. We never forget them or the things they taught us. The elders who outlived Joshua remembered his leadership so clearly that they served the Lord all the days of their lives. I think about Miss Jones who has been in my life almost sixty years and I tell my grandchildren – “Be a teacher like she was, be a teacher who changes lives!”

How are you doing with the people God puts in your life? Are you a positive person who offers hope and encouragement for them, one who spurs them on to be all that God wants them to be? I know you are. After all, that’s the role of role models!

Bonny Doon

“Ye banks and braes o’ Bonny Doon, How can ye bloom so fresh and fair?How can ye chant, ye little birds, when I am so weary full of care?Ye’ll break my heart, ye warbling birds that warble on the flowery tree,For my false lover stole the rose, and left and left, the thorn with me.”

(One of the many songs that Miss Jones taught us. I sang it to my children and grandchildren when they asked, “Sing ’Bonny Doon’, Grandma!”)

Overtaking Blessings

Reading Through the Bible in 2010 (Deut. 28)

“And all these blessings shall come upon you, and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God. (Deut. 28:2)

“Kayla,” I said gazing incredulously at my 10 year old granddaughter, “When did you write all these poems?”

“Oh, at school,” she replied nonchalantly.

“They’re wonderful,” I exclaimed, “I love them!”

“Well,” she responded, warming to my enthusiasm, “I’m writing a longer story now. It’s about an ice skater who has had a bad fall and is nervous about starting to skate again.”

“May I read it?” I asked.

“Sure….. but,” she added looking around warningly, “please not out loud.”

There was a teenage brother in the room looking harmless enough as he watched ESPN. However, I understood. Most of us writers feel just like that about our work. Is 98% of what we say garbage? Are people going to look at our stuff and laugh their heads off?

As I read about Shannon, the ice skater, my heart rejoiced. Each page pulled me into the next. “Kayla,” I lamented, “How can I go back to Wisconsin and not know how this story ends?”

“I’ll send it to you when it’s done,” she responded reassuringly.

What a blessing for a grandmother to read her grandchild’s talented writing! We see these great bends in our children and grandchildren and they are incredible blessings. They surprise us and overtake us. They are gifts from God.

In today’s reading, the nation of Israel is given the beginning of Moses’ third message to them. He predicts what will happen to Israel in the future. I love the concept that their obedience to God’s standards will result in blessings that will overtake them. His blessings will chase after them and literally run them down.

Did they obey God? Yes, at first, but.... well, we'll just have to keep reading to see what happens in God's great story of the nation of Israel.

This morning I called Kayla and asked, “Are you poems copyrighted or may I publish one on my blog?”

“Of course,” she responded cheerily, “Which do you want to post?”

“Turquoise,” I said. “It reflects the prolific blessings of your favorite color.”

Here it is, a poem lavish with God’s overtaking blessings, written by a fifth grade girl who has noticed them.

The Life of the Color Turquoise

Turquoise…

Is born in a clear sky

Makes me feel joyful, serene, thoughtful

Feels like a pillow, water, a flower petal

Looks like the sky, a morning glory, water

Is my friend because it makes me calm, alive, thoughtful

Smells like birthday cake, fresh air, a flower

Behaves peacefully, gently, joyfully

Tastes like fresh air, icing

Sounds like birds chirping, breezes blowing

Dies when the sun sets and darkness enters

Kayla

God is chasing us down with His overtaking blessings. Will you, like Kayla, watch for them today? Look behind you, look above you, look around you. They are everywhere.

Oh, stay tuned for Kayla’s future blog address!

Remember, Remember, Remember!

Reading Through the Bible in 2010 (Deut. 1-2)

“These are the words which Moses spoke to all Israel on this side of the Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain opposite Suph, between Paran, Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Dizahab.” Deut. 1:1

“Grandma, remember you are loved by all!”

February 25^th was my 67^th birthday. I thought it would be a rather nondescript occasion. 67 is heading toward the middle of 65 and 70. Who would pay much attention to this one? Surely not me - but everyone else seemed to. In fact, I was a bit overwhelmed by the love that was showered on me this birthday. I’d like to tell you about every wonderful thing that happened, but my grandson, Christopher did something that fits in well with today’s Bible reading.

He made me a bright yellow card and on it he had written the words, “Grandma, remember you are loved by all.” Then he had added the words remember, remember, remember!

That is what Moses is doing today as we start the book of Deuteronomy - remembering. He is speaking to the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land. He is giving them a charge and telling them to think back about what has happened to them since the time they left Egypt forty years before.

Deuteronomy has even been called “The Book of Remembrance.” It covers about one month as the children of Israel camp on the plains of Moab east of the Jordan River. They are so ready to enter the land of Canaan. As Moses deliverers his instructions, I can picture the Israelites looking at him with the water flowing behind him and the Land of Milk and Honey visible just beyond. I know what Moses looked like because of the movie, “The Ten Commandments.” He is now 120 years old - nearly twice my nondescript age - as he starts his series of farewell messages that make up Deuteronomy.

The Book of Rememberings has other names. The Hebrew title means “The Words.” Moses gives them in oral and written form so that they will endure to all generations. Deuteronomy is also called “five-fifths of the Law” since it completes the Pentateuch – the five books of Moses.

Moses delivers three sermons to the Israelites in Deuteronomy. They have a simple theme. Remember what happened when you obeyed God? Remember how bad things became when you didn’t obey Him? Christopher's words: remember, remember, remember!

It is important for us to bear in mind that this is a generation whose parents have all died in the wilderness wanderings because of their lack of faith. Only Joshua and Caleb remain. The Israelites Moses is speaking to have seen the graphic results of disobedience. They need to be instructed and encouraged to obey the Law given 40 years before at Mt. Sinai.

Birthdays remind us that we are crossing rivers into new years filled with giants. Uncertainty and fear are stationed around every turn on our journeys through life. Will we meet these giants with fear or with faith? It's always there- looming in front of us on our Christian walk- the faith or fear question! Isn't it so much easier to hunker down in front of the TV and cater to our couch potato sides? Who wants to get up and take a risk anyway? It is especially difficult because, well, risks are risky. They can even result in failure. Getting involved with life is difficult – having a neighborhood Bible Study, reaching out to hurting friends, cooking a meal for a homeless shelter, coming to the aid of babies being aborted - the precarious list of things God calls us to do goes on and on. Leaving our recliners to go into the unknown is so unknownish. It doesn’t seem safe at all.

Moses' reminder is so significant! We need to remember, remember, remember what has happened in the past when we obeyed God. As we think back upon what God has already done, our hearts are strengthened for the future. Let’s determine to respond to His call in obedience even when it doesn’t seem safe, When we respond in obedience, He takes care of the giants in His own marvelous way – just like He has always done in the past.

Hudson Taylor said, “God’s command is His enabling.” What a great birthday reminder for a new year of life!

Remember, remember, remember!

Levity From Leviticus

Reading Through the Bible in 2010 (Lev. 6-9)

After reading the first nine chapters of the book of Leviticus, you might need a little humor to spur you on. I thought this was very funny.

Charlie and I and my friend, Betsy all went to high school together. Yesterday she sent me an e-mail. (I'll call her Betsy "I" to avoid confusion.) She was chit chatting and encouraging me to keep writing this blog. Then she asked,

"Charlie, did I ever mention my encounter with our dear little advanced algebra teacher a number of years ago?" (She didn't address me because I'm sure she remembered that my English major type mind never ventured to0 close to higher math classes.)

Betsy "I" proceeded, " I was visiting Oakridge Gardens' - the convalescent home - and there she was sitting up straight and erect in a wheelchair in the hall. I approached her with a greeting and introduced myself. She was very sweet and polite. She looked at me and said, "Let me see, I may have forgotten ...ah, just WHO is your coefficient???"

Betsy went on to say, "I no longer knew what that word MEANT but I knew she was referring to my husband. She was asking me who I'd married."

Thanks, Betsy "I" for taking time to give me a great laugh as I progressed along my joyful journey through Leviticus.

Do greet your "Coefficient" for me!

Love, Betsy "II"

A Celebration of Finishing

“So Moses finished the work. Then, the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle."” (Ex. 40:33b,34)

Reading Through the Bible in 2010 (Ex. 39-40)

Yesterday evening our favorite north wood’s logger and his wife came over to eat with us. Shadows were lengthening across the lake as they arrived. They had just walked in when the telephone rang. Our “neighbor” across the lake was stuck in a snowdrift. Could Charlie come? Charlie and Brent drove over and pulled her out with a towrope attached to Brent’s truck and she headed back to civilization. The men returned –mission accomplished, task completed – to find Martha and I curled up in front of the fire, glasses of cranberry juice in hand, catching up on life’s latest happenings.

I could tell you more about our time together. About how I made meat loaf and mashed potatoes and “southern” beans, like Mrs. Hartley taught me as a young bride in South Carolina many years ago. About how Martha brought a cherry pie made with cherries from their very own tree and applesauce grown from fruit picked in their back yard. About how much we laughed as we ate our dinner.

Afterwards, Ethan called from Alaska and Ted called from Appleton –just to check in. When they heard that Brent was here, they wanted to talk to him about chain saws and deer feed and trees they planned to plant. Lots of camaraderie and hilarity and good conversation. When they left, we had a prayer time. As we finished praying, I looked up at the peaceful fire glowing with the crackling wood that Brent had cut for us last summer, and I thought again about what a gift friends are as we travel along the joyful journey toward heaven.

My friend, Annabelle, once gave me a plaque that said, “I didn’t choose my friends, the Lord gave them to me.” So true!

Later, the dishes were put away and the house was quiet. A huge full moon was shining over the lake. Charlie and I read Exodus 40 together.

“Why, we’re done!” I said. “We’ve finished Genesis and Exodus. I think God gave us tonight’s dinner as a feast to celebrate being one twelfth of the way through the Bible in 2010! ”

As he reached up and turned off the light, Charlie smiled and said, “Maybe, Betsy.” As I drifted off to sleep, I knew it was.

“So Moses finished the work.” The extensive work of completing the tabernacle was accomplished in nine short months. The people worked together and they did it. They must have been very excited. We are told that “the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.”

Isn’t there a great joy in finishing something? Whether it’s a little task or a big project, it’s always “a fight to the finish” to get it done. But what a wonderful feeling to be able to say, “I’ve finished.”

Today we leave Exodus, the book that mean’s departure. As we exit Exodus we head toward Leviticus, the book of holiness. Leviticus shows how God’s people are to fulfill their priestly calling in their worship and walk. Let’s plunge in and see what new lessons God will teach us about “our Joyful Journey.” February 1st is a great time to start reading through the Bible with us.

Maybe we can look forward to another celebration at the end of February!

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!