Blogging is just an elongated "tweet" or facebook post, right? Then, why is it that I have so much trouble having something to say worthy of a blog? Maybe it's because a comment is rarely posted on a blog and I like feedback. We used to call that - conversation! Now we text using abbreviations and "textese" (the language of text that completely ignores grammar and punctuation for the sake of 160 characters). Don't get me wrong - I LOVE being able to get in touch with someone by text. And Facebook, Google+ and Twitter are a great way to "stay in touch" with friends and family. I just miss having back and forth dialog!
Call me! Better yet, let's meet for coffee and TALK! My vocabulary is getting rusty and I'm growing tired of alphabetical exclamations!
BTW - IMY and need a good LOL!
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
A Moment In Time Can Change Everything
2 Samuel 11 & 12
It was a beautiful spring afternoon. The air was clear, the sun was shining and the roof was the perfect place to freshen up. Another month passes and no baby. Uriah was off to war with the king’s army. It will be a long time before her husband returns. No matter, life has a way of righting itself.
On a nearby balcony, the king, who had chosen to stay at the palace instead of going to battle with his troops, sees an unusually beautiful woman bathing on her rooftop. “Does she know I’m here? I’ve not seen such beauty! Who is this woman?” The messengers sent to inquire of her return with the news that she is Bathsheba, the daughter of a trusted friend and granddaughter of one of his advisors. She is also the wife of one of his most loyal soldiers, a member of his royal guard.
In that moment the king had the opportunity to walk away from the lust in his heart and honor the vows this woman had made to her husband. But he didn’t.
A messenger was sent to the woman, calling her to the king’s chambers. She quickly responded and went immediately to the king. We don’t know the conversation but it is quite certain that the king made his wishes of her known. In that moment she had a choice to make, surrender to the king’s wishes or honor her vows to her husband.
Can you imagine what it would be like to be desired by the king? The flattery of being called to him, the honor of serving the highest authority in the land, it must have taken her breath away. Thoughts must have been turning in her head, “The king has many wives and yet, he wants me!” A blush of embarrassment and a schoolgirl’s giggle may have been the reaction. Or, had there been a devious plan on her part.
Did she know the king had not gone to war? It is most likely the whole city knew. Did she know her rooftop was in full view of the king’s balcony? Probably. Did she desire the privilege of the palace, the luxury of being one of the king’s women? Did she mean for him to see her? She went to him and slept with him and then returned home.
The moment had passed. It might have been a one-time encounter but she became pregnant. Now what? Uriah will be dishonored, the king has no obligation to her – she’s married. What can be done? The law demands death for both David and Bathsheba. Bathsheba decided to leave it up to King David sending word to him of her pregnancy and the cover up begins. Uriah was brought home but in his loyalty to his king and his brothers in battle, he refused to spend time with his wife. Even when the king got him drunk, Uriah was a man of honor. The only way out was to kill Uriah and marry Bathsheba. Uriah was sent to battle with the understanding on the part of his superiors that he was to be placed in the “front line where the fighting is fiercest so her will be struck down and die”. Uriah died defending his nation and his king.
How different things would have been if in those moments of decision, David and Bathsheba had followed the laws of God known well by both of them. Because of one moment’s weakness, David, a man after God’s own heart, broke the sixth, seventh, ninth and tenth commandments*, the very law he said was his delight, (Psalm 40:8)
The opportunity for this sin may have presented itself many times but it only took one surrender to the moment to change everything.
God in his justice, allowed David to marry Bathsheba but the baby born of their sin died. David’s heart was broken. He pleaded with God for the child’s life but God said “No.” (2 Samuel 12:15-24)
The good news to this story is God did forgive David and Bathsheba and gave their union a son, Solomon that ruled the nation with great wisdom and was loved by God (2 Samuel 12:24). Bathsheba was honored and loved by her husband and her son.
David was allowed to rule bringing his nation into the promise God had given their father Abraham.
We are given “moments” everyday that will determine our futures. We have to choose to make the right choices based on God’s commandments. It would be easy to allow the words or look of flattery to turn us. We may even be putting our livelihood and futures at risk by refusing to give in to those “moments” but God’s promises NEVER fail us. When we make the right choice IN THAT MOMENT, we are secure in the promise David knew to be true:
“ 73 You made me; you created me.
Now give me the sense to follow your commands.
74 May all who fear you find in me a cause for joy,
for I have put my hope in your word.
75 I know, O Lord, that your regulations are fair;
you disciplined me because I needed it.
76 Now let your unfailing love comfort me,
just as you promised me, your servant.
77 Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live,
for your instructions are my delight. Psalm 119:73-77
Now give me the sense to follow your commands.
74 May all who fear you find in me a cause for joy,
for I have put my hope in your word.
75 I know, O Lord, that your regulations are fair;
you disciplined me because I needed it.
76 Now let your unfailing love comfort me,
just as you promised me, your servant.
77 Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live,
for your instructions are my delight. Psalm 119:73-77
Monday, May 9, 2011
Just Because
I recently received an unexpected check that had "Just because" written in the memo. It surprised me mostly because the givers have never given me a personal gift before and really have no reason or obligation to be blessing me with a gift of any kind. That is what made it even more surprising and special.
God does things like that for us all the time. He sends a cooling rain on a hot summer day, He warms the winter days with sunshine, He gives an encouraging song to the birds and smiling faces to the flowers just because He loves us.
My five year old granddaughter understands just how special she is to God. Here is her story written by her mother:
God has chosen you to be his own special treasure. (Deut. 7:6) You don't have to take my word for it. It is all through the Bible how much God loves us. We are His treasure. He keeps us safely tucked away from harm in His "treasure pouch" 1 Samuel 25:29
God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 1 John 4:9-10 (NLT)
God doesn't have to do anything for us, but He does just because!
Additional scriptures:
John 3:16 (Whole Chapter)
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Ephesians 1:4 (Whole Chapter)
Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.
Exodus 19:5 (Whole Chapter)
Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me.
Deuteronomy 7:6 (Whole Chapter)
For you are a holy people, who belong to the Lord your God. Of all the people on earth, the Lord your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure.
Deuteronomy 14:2 (Whole Chapter)
You have been set apart as holy to the Lord your God, and he has chosen you from all the nations of the earth to be his own special treasure.
Deuteronomy 26:18 (Whole Chapter)
The Lord has declared today that you are his people, his own special treasure, just as he promised, and that you must obey all his commands.
1 Samuel 25:29 (Whole Chapter)
“Even when you are chased by those who seek to kill you, your life is safe in the care of the Lord your God, secure in his treasure pouch! But the lives of your enemies will disappear like stones shot from a sling!
Malachi 3:17 (Whole Chapter)
“They will be my people,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “On the day when I act in judgment, they will be my own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient child.
God does things like that for us all the time. He sends a cooling rain on a hot summer day, He warms the winter days with sunshine, He gives an encouraging song to the birds and smiling faces to the flowers just because He loves us.
My five year old granddaughter understands just how special she is to God. Here is her story written by her mother:
Pink Clouds
by Piper Hawkins Koeppen
I took Addison to McDonald's today and let her get a soda...I know, it's not good for her, but she was really good today and I just couldn't help it; she's my sweetheart. Later this afternoon we were driving home and she was whining about something. I finally had to say in a stern voice, "Addison, that's enough! No more whining!" Shortly after, she was still whining a bit and I decided I needed a Starbucks. She wanted a steamer, I knew I shouldn't get her one, she'd already had a soda AND she was being naughty....but I got her one anyway...I couldn't help it, she's my sweetheart. As we pulled away, with her steamer in hand, she whispered, "Mommy look!" I turned to see what she was pointing toward and there was the horizon with the sun beginning to set. Smiling she simply said, "See Jesus painted me pink clouds today." Right then I heard Him whisper, "I couldn't help it, she's my sweetheart."
God has chosen you to be his own special treasure. (Deut. 7:6) You don't have to take my word for it. It is all through the Bible how much God loves us. We are His treasure. He keeps us safely tucked away from harm in His "treasure pouch" 1 Samuel 25:29
God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 1 John 4:9-10 (NLT)
God doesn't have to do anything for us, but He does just because!
Additional scriptures:
John 3:16 (Whole Chapter)
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Ephesians 1:4 (Whole Chapter)
Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.
Exodus 19:5 (Whole Chapter)
Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me.
Deuteronomy 7:6 (Whole Chapter)
For you are a holy people, who belong to the Lord your God. Of all the people on earth, the Lord your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure.
Deuteronomy 14:2 (Whole Chapter)
You have been set apart as holy to the Lord your God, and he has chosen you from all the nations of the earth to be his own special treasure.
Deuteronomy 26:18 (Whole Chapter)
The Lord has declared today that you are his people, his own special treasure, just as he promised, and that you must obey all his commands.
1 Samuel 25:29 (Whole Chapter)
“Even when you are chased by those who seek to kill you, your life is safe in the care of the Lord your God, secure in his treasure pouch! But the lives of your enemies will disappear like stones shot from a sling!
Malachi 3:17 (Whole Chapter)
“They will be my people,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “On the day when I act in judgment, they will be my own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient child.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Dusted for Fingerprints
Call me crazy, but I truly enjoy all the forensic based shows on television. CSI, NCIS, NCIS-LA, CSI-NY, even Bones, (we can skip Horatio from Miami!). My husband doesn’t understand my attraction to these shows. To him it’s all guts and gore. I don’t care for that part of the show either – when they do an inside the body scope-like journey to follow the track of the bullet or whatever. However, the mystery – the search for answers based on only the facts of the evidence is very intriguing to me. It is amazing the equipment that has been developed to determine chemical compounds and fiber matches. They have machines that can break down fluids into a number of chemicals; they have scopes and databases to tell the exact car a fiber came from or where a bit of dirt originated. It’s almost sci-fi in nature! But the old reliable “dusting powder” hasn’t changed and is still used to determine the very unique markings of fingerprints. Any time a person handles or just touches something we leave behind a fingerprint, a print that is undeniably our mark. Some fingerprints bring blessing; some bring destruction.
The power of Jesus’ fingerprints is revealed in the Biblical books of Matthew, Mark and Luke when He touched people at their point of need bringing healing and comfort to them.
· Matthew 8:15
But when Jesus touched her hand, the fever left her. Then she got up and prepared a meal for him.
But when Jesus touched her hand, the fever left her. Then she got up and prepared a meal for him.
· Matthew 9:29
Then he touched their eyes and said, “Because of your faith, it will happen.”
Then he touched their eyes and said, “Because of your faith, it will happen.”
· Matthew 17:7
Then Jesus came over and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.”
Then Jesus came over and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.”
· Matthew 20:34
Jesus felt sorry for them and touched their eyes. Instantly they could see! Then they followed him.
Jesus felt sorry for them and touched their eyes. Instantly they could see! Then they followed him.
· Mark 1:41
Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!”
Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!”
· Mark 6:56
Wherever he went—in villages, cities, or the countryside—they brought the sick out to the marketplaces. They begged him to let the sick touch at least the fringe of his robe, and all who touched him were healed.
Wherever he went—in villages, cities, or the countryside—they brought the sick out to the marketplaces. They begged him to let the sick touch at least the fringe of his robe, and all who touched him were healed.
· Mark 7:33
Jesus led him away from the crowd so they could be alone. He put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then, spitting on his own fingers, he touched the man’s tongue.
Jesus led him away from the crowd so they could be alone. He put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then, spitting on his own fingers, he touched the man’s tongue.
· Mark 10:13
One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.
One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.
· Luke 4:40
As the sun went down that evening, people throughout the village brought sick family members to Jesus. No matter what their diseases were, the touch of his hand healed every one.
As the sun went down that evening, people throughout the village brought sick family members to Jesus. No matter what their diseases were, the touch of his hand healed every one.
· Luke 7:14
Then he walked over to the coffin and touched it, and the bearers stopped. “Young man,” he said, “I tell you, get up.”
Then he walked over to the coffin and touched it, and the bearers stopped. “Young man,” he said, “I tell you, get up.”
· Luke 13:13
Then he touched her, and instantly she could stand straight. How she praised God!
Then he touched her, and instantly she could stand straight. How she praised God!
· Luke 14:4
When they refused to answer, Jesus touched the sick man and healed him and sent him away.
When they refused to answer, Jesus touched the sick man and healed him and sent him away.
ALL these lives were changed by the touch of Jesus. His touch left the fingerprint of God’s mercy and restoration.
Paul, a disciple of Jesus Christ, knew the importance of baring the marks or fingerprints of God in his life. In ancient times the Greek word for “marks” was used of the brand that identified slaves or animals. Paul’s suffering (stoning, Ac 14:19; beatings, Ac 16:22; 2 Cor 11:25; illness, Gal 4:13-14) marked him as a “servant of Christ”.* The touch of God on Paul’s life so marked him that “When handkerchiefs or aprons that had merely touched his (Paul’s) skin were placed on sick people, they were healed of their diseases, and evil spirits were expelled.” (Acts 19:12)
The fingerprint of God on Paul’s life included pain and suffering but he fully understood the favor of God’s touch as well. When arguments arose among the first century Christians about circumcision, the first identifying mark of the covenant between God and Abraham (Gen 17:9-14), Paul gave explanation of the new covenant. “12 Those who are trying to force you to be circumcised want to look good to others. They don’t want to be persecuted for teaching that the cross of Christ alone can save. 13 And even those who advocate circumcision don’t keep the whole law themselves. They only want you to be circumcised so they can boast about it and claim you as their disciples.
14 As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died. 15 It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. 16 May God’s peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principle; they are the new people of God.
17 From now on, don’t let anyone trouble me with these things. For I bear on my body the scars (or marks in some translations) that show I belong to Jesus.” (Gal 6:12-17)
What does the mark of God’s fingerprint on my life look like? Do those I encounter every day see God’s touch or the smudge of sin and failure? Is there a definite sign that I have been in God’s presence, marked by Jesus’ touch and empowered by the Holy Spirit? How will they know?
Jesus told his disciples at their last supper together, "Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other." (John 13:34-35) The new command was much like the old one given in Lev 19:18, but for Jesus’ disciples it was new, because it was the mark of their brotherhood, created by Jesus’ great love for them (Matt 22:37-39). *
The people around us are always “dusting us” for fingerprints. There is a great desire to see genuine love and the demonstration of faith and confidence. People need to see we are who we say we are and do what God says we should!
Watching forensics shows make you want to be sure you clean your doorknobs well so, if the need ever arises, the CSI agents will be able to determine the unusual set of fingerprints found there to solve a crime! Even more, when we realize we bear the marks of things that touch our lives every day, we need to purify our lives with the touch of God. It is the undeniable fingerprint of God Almighty that I want to display in loving my neighbors and demonstrating the love of Christ to my brothers and sisters in the faith. I hope when they “dust me for fingerprints” I’m COVERED with God’s!
*Footnotes from the NIV Study Bible
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