I have always loved the "Footprints In The Sand" poem. It is such a comforting reminder that even when we feel alone in the trials of life, God is NEAR. He carries us.
In Exodus 28, God gives Moses instructions for making the high priestly garments. Twice in those garments, Aaron (and every high priest following him) are bearing or carrying the names of the tribes of Israel "before the Lord". It really jumped out at me earlier this year, and did so again today. The first "bearing" takes place on Aaron's shoulders. This encouraged me because the shoulders are a place of strength. The second "bearing" is over Aaron's heart. This also encouraged me because the heart represents affections.
I can't read about Aaron without thinking of Jesus. The New Testament writers tell us that Jesus is the Great High Priest. He is the one that Aaron and all his sons foreshadowed. So as I'm reading about Aaron bearing the names of the Israelites before the Lord, I'm thinking of Jesus bearing MY name before the Lord. Carrying me in the strength of His sacrifice for my sin. Carrying me in the affection of a lover for his bride. It's amazing!
And you shall set the two stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod, as stones of remembrance for the sons of Israel. And Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD on his two shoulders for remembrance.
Exodus 28:12
So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgment on his heart, when he goes into the Holy Place, to bring them to regular remembrance before the LORD.
Exodus 28:29
For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him: "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, 'You are a priest forever.'" This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
Hebrews 7:18-25
Thursday, April 30, 2015
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Comfort Food
Warm chocolate chip cookies. Fresh cinnamon rolls. Biscuits and gravy. Chicken and dumplings. Meatballs and mashed potatoes. Apple pie. This kind of food is in a group that we affectionately refer to as "comfort food". It makes tastebuds sing, bellies feel warm and satisfied, and happy chemicals course through the bloodstream.
When I am stressed, I enjoy cooking and eating. And I've been stressed a lot over the past several months. I've tipped the scale ten pounds heavier since the beginning of the school year. But over recent weeks, I've begun to feel very convicted about how I'm feeding my body. (This IS NOT a "sugar and fat and carbs are evil" rant. I believe that sugar and carbs and fat are GOOD in moderation. ) The issue of my conviction is that I have been turning to food for comfort. And it's as if the Lord has been telling me, "You say you believe that I am your Comforter, but in the moment of testing you reach for the muffin. Your actions say that the muffin is greater than Me." I'd like to argue, but the truth of it resonates in my soul. I've trusted food for comfort, but all it has done is expand my waistline.
Dear Christian, what are you running to for comfort? If it is anything other than our Good God, repent and BELIEVE that He is the God of all comfort.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves have been comforted by God. For if we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.
2 Corinthians 1:3-5
When I am stressed, I enjoy cooking and eating. And I've been stressed a lot over the past several months. I've tipped the scale ten pounds heavier since the beginning of the school year. But over recent weeks, I've begun to feel very convicted about how I'm feeding my body. (This IS NOT a "sugar and fat and carbs are evil" rant. I believe that sugar and carbs and fat are GOOD in moderation. ) The issue of my conviction is that I have been turning to food for comfort. And it's as if the Lord has been telling me, "You say you believe that I am your Comforter, but in the moment of testing you reach for the muffin. Your actions say that the muffin is greater than Me." I'd like to argue, but the truth of it resonates in my soul. I've trusted food for comfort, but all it has done is expand my waistline.
Dear Christian, what are you running to for comfort? If it is anything other than our Good God, repent and BELIEVE that He is the God of all comfort.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves have been comforted by God. For if we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.
2 Corinthians 1:3-5
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Kneel Down
There are two ways to get on a child's level and interact. If you are a parent, (and maybe even if you're not) you've probably done both regularly. The first is to lift them up and carry them. In fact, this is primary for the first year or so of life. Then, as the child grows, you begin to employ the second. You kneel down so that you can look one another in the eye as you speak. I've both seen and been that tender picture many times. I think it is so beautiful because it expresses the child's dignity as a person. And it displays the great love of the parent toward the child. So as I read in Exodus this morning, that is the image seared in my mind.
God gave Moses VERY detailed instructions for building the tabernacle. It was to be built EXACTLY according to the pattern God showed him. The tabernacle was God's dwelling among the Israelites. As you read the pattern, you get the image of a stacked structure. The bases for the courtyard are bronze and their tops are silver. Then in the tabernacle proper, the bases are silver and their tops are gold. Except at the entrance. The bases of the entrance are BRONZE! It's as if, in the building, God is kneeling down to meet with them. Then we learn in the New Testament that the greatest expression of God kneeling down to us came when Christ became a man. He lived as one of us. He died for us. And He lives!
You shall make a screen for the entrance of the tent, of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, embroidered with needlework. And you shall make for the screen five pillars of acacia, and overlay them with gold. Their hooks shall be of gold, and you shall cast five bases of bronze for them.
Exodus 26:36-37
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14
God gave Moses VERY detailed instructions for building the tabernacle. It was to be built EXACTLY according to the pattern God showed him. The tabernacle was God's dwelling among the Israelites. As you read the pattern, you get the image of a stacked structure. The bases for the courtyard are bronze and their tops are silver. Then in the tabernacle proper, the bases are silver and their tops are gold. Except at the entrance. The bases of the entrance are BRONZE! It's as if, in the building, God is kneeling down to meet with them. Then we learn in the New Testament that the greatest expression of God kneeling down to us came when Christ became a man. He lived as one of us. He died for us. And He lives!
You shall make a screen for the entrance of the tent, of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, embroidered with needlework. And you shall make for the screen five pillars of acacia, and overlay them with gold. Their hooks shall be of gold, and you shall cast five bases of bronze for them.
Exodus 26:36-37
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14
Monday, April 27, 2015
Light of the World
Last weekend, our electric transformer popped. I had just finished cooking our dinner. (Small blessings.) So I lit our two scented candles and two oil lamps and we ate by candlelight. Instead of our normal movie night, we played a board game. But I quickly became frustrated because between the dim light and my aging eyes, it was quite difficult for me to play. In fact, when the electricity came on a couple hours later, I felt like I was seeing the game board for the first time! And I was reminded of Jesus's declaration that He is the light of the world.
Light is such a huge thing. It is absolutely necessary for us to be able to see. It causes plants, and therefore food, to grow. It provides warmth to varying degrees. And it triggers hormones in our bodies that make us feel happy.
And Jesus says I am the light. I'll cause you to see.
I am the light. I'll sustain you, and provide for you.
I am the light. I'll give you warmth.
I am the light. I'll make you happier than you can even imagine.
Again Jesus spoke to them saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
John 8:12
Light is such a huge thing. It is absolutely necessary for us to be able to see. It causes plants, and therefore food, to grow. It provides warmth to varying degrees. And it triggers hormones in our bodies that make us feel happy.
And Jesus says I am the light. I'll cause you to see.
I am the light. I'll sustain you, and provide for you.
I am the light. I'll give you warmth.
I am the light. I'll make you happier than you can even imagine.
Again Jesus spoke to them saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
John 8:12
Saturday, April 11, 2015
I am
I love Exodus. At this particular point in my life, it may be my favorite book in the Bible! Most recently I'm into the command section. God has freed the Israelites from slavery. He has led them safely through the Red Sea. He has graciously provided their needs through the wilderness. And now He is with them at Mount Sinai, giving them the law. These two verses jumped off the page at me.
If ever you take your neighbor's cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down, for that is his only covering, and it is his cloak for his body; in what else shall he sleep? And if he cries to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.
Exodus 22:26-27
When I read that "I am" statement, the first thing I thought of was in chapter twenty when God says that He is a jealous God. He made them. He redeemed them. And He refuses to share their worship, their affections, with anyone or anything else. I thought it was a beautiful balance when a couple chapters later He tells us that He is compassionate.
compassion: a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering (Dictionary.com)
As I did a little digging, I realized that Exodus is FULL of "I am" statements. God introduces Himself to the Israelites as "I am". All through the plagues He reiterates "I am the LORD". And after they crossed the Red Sea, He declares Himself to be their healer. Exodus is the beautiful story of the Holy God who redeems and reveals Himself to a weak and wayward people.
The LORD descended in the cloud and stood with [Moses] there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and fourth generation."
Exodus 34:5-7
If ever you take your neighbor's cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down, for that is his only covering, and it is his cloak for his body; in what else shall he sleep? And if he cries to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.
Exodus 22:26-27
When I read that "I am" statement, the first thing I thought of was in chapter twenty when God says that He is a jealous God. He made them. He redeemed them. And He refuses to share their worship, their affections, with anyone or anything else. I thought it was a beautiful balance when a couple chapters later He tells us that He is compassionate.
compassion: a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering (Dictionary.com)
As I did a little digging, I realized that Exodus is FULL of "I am" statements. God introduces Himself to the Israelites as "I am". All through the plagues He reiterates "I am the LORD". And after they crossed the Red Sea, He declares Himself to be their healer. Exodus is the beautiful story of the Holy God who redeems and reveals Himself to a weak and wayward people.
The LORD descended in the cloud and stood with [Moses] there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and fourth generation."
Exodus 34:5-7
Sunday, April 5, 2015
International Treasure
Our schedule right now is generally open on Saturday evenings, so we eat "kid-friendly " snack foods and watch a movie. Last night we watched "National Treasure". If you're not familiar with the story, the main character believes that the American founding fathers hid a massive treasure and then left behind the clues to find it in things like our currency and national monuments. I was struck last night about the lengths to which he is willing to go to find this legendary treasure. His family (and he) have utterly ruined their reputations. His father says that a one dollar bill is the sum total of their family fortune. He risks his freedom and even his life to keep the villain from getting the treasure. And he is perpetually drawing other people into the hunt.
Today is Resurrection Sunday. It is, as one of our church family pointed out this morning, the "Super Bowl" of Christianity. This is the height of our year, because on this day we remember, in a heightened way, that our Savior is ALIVE. He died, and now is alive forevermore! And I was reminded of the parable of the pearl.
"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Matthew 13:44-46
Today is Resurrection Sunday. It is, as one of our church family pointed out this morning, the "Super Bowl" of Christianity. This is the height of our year, because on this day we remember, in a heightened way, that our Savior is ALIVE. He died, and now is alive forevermore! And I was reminded of the parable of the pearl.
"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Matthew 13:44-46
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